10th Annual Hot Chocolate Awards
We are proud to present the results of the 10th Annual HOT CHOCOLATE AWARDS Competition.
The International Chocolate Salon results for the 10th Annual HOT CHOCOLATE AWARDS are based on the combined total number of votes received by each entrant from the Judging Panel.
The chocolate awards Judging Panel consists of National and Regional Magazines, Newspaper and Blog Editors, plus Topic Experts, Local Chefs and Food Gurus.
SOOTHING AND DELICIOUS
5.0 STARS
4.5 STARS
4.0 STARS
3.5 STARS
3.0 STARS
BEST TEXTURE
5.0 STARS
- Delysia Chocolatier Gilded Brewing Drinking Chocolate with Espresso
4.5 STARS
- Ambrosia Sipping Chocolate Ambrosia Hot Chocolate
- Ambrosia Sipping Chocolate Ambrosia Salted Caramel Chocolate
4.0 STARS
- Delysia Chocolatier Lavender Drinking Chocolate
- Delysia Chocolatier Pumpkin Spice Drinking Chocolate
- Panache Chocolatier Aztec Gold
- Panache Chocolatier Colombian Drinking Chocolate
- Creamed Honey Co Bee10 Cocoa original
- Panache Chocolatier Berry Bramble
3.5 STARS
- LOCOCO Company, hot cocoa - original spice
- Creamed Honey Co Bee10 Cocoa Malt
- Creamed Honey Co Bee10 Cocoa Creme de menthe
- MOCO Peppermint Hot Chocolate
- Godavari Chocolate BonFiction Drinking Chocolate
- MOCO Banana Hot Chocolate
3.0 STARS
- MOCO Mexican Hot Chocolate
- Cacaolab Corporation Limited Cacao Tea
BEST INGREDIENT COMBINATIONS
5.0 STARS
- Delysia Chocolatier Gilded Brewing Drinking Chocolate with Espresso
4.5 STARS
- Panache Chocolatier Colombian Drinking Chocolate
- Ambrosia Sipping Chocolate Ambrosia Salted Caramel Chocolate
- Delysia Chocolatier Pumpkin Spice Drinking Chocolate
- Panache Chocolatier Aztec Gold
- Delysia Chocolatier Lavender Drinking Chocolate
4.0 STARS
- Ambrosia Sipping Chocolate Ambrosia Hot Chocolate
- Panache Chocolatier Berry Bramble
- Creamed Honey Co Bee10 Cocoa original
- Creamed Honey Co Bee10 Cocoa Malt
3.5 STARS
- Creamed Honey Co Bee10 Cocoa Creme de menthe
- LOCOCO Company, hot cocoa - original spice
- MOCO Peppermint Hot Chocolate
3.0 STARS
- Godavari Chocolate BonFiction Drinking Chocolate
- MOCO Banana Hot Chocolate
- MOCO Mexican Hot Chocolate
- Cacaolab Corporation Limited Cacao Tea
BEST TASTE
5.0 STARS
- Delysia Chocolatier Gilded Brewing Drinking Chocolate with Espresso
4.5 STARS
- Ambrosia Sipping Chocolate Ambrosia Hot Chocolate
- Panache Chocolatier Colombian Drinking Chocolate
- Ambrosia Sipping Chocolate Ambrosia Salted Caramel Chocolate
- Delysia Chocolatier Pumpkin Spice Drinking Chocolate
4.0 STARS
- Delysia Chocolatier Lavender Drinking Chocolate
- Panache Chocolatier Aztec Gold
3.5 STARS
- Panache Chocolatier Berry Bramble
- Creamed Honey Co Bee10 Cocoa original
- Creamed Honey Co Bee10 Cocoa Malt
- MOCO Peppermint Hot Chocolate
- LOCOCO Company, hot cocoa - original spice
- Creamed Honey Co Bee10 Cocoa Creme de menthe
3.0 STARS
- MOCO Mexican Hot Chocolate
- Godavari Chocolate BonFiction Drinking Chocolate
- MOCO Banana Hot Chocolate
- Cacaolab Corporation Limited Cacao Tea
BEST RICHNESS
5.0 STARS
- Delysia Chocolatier Gilded Brewing Drinking Chocolate with Espresso
- Delysia Chocolatier Pumpkin Spice Drinking Chocolate
- Panache Chocolatier Colombian Drinking Chocolate
4.5 STARS
- Delysia Chocolatier Lavender Drinking Chocolate
- Ambrosia Sipping Chocolate Ambrosia Hot Chocolate
- Panache Chocolatier Aztec Gold
- Ambrosia Sipping Chocolate Ambrosia Salted Caramel Chocolate
4.0 STARS
- Panache Chocolatier Berry Bramble
- Creamed Honey Co Bee10 Cocoa original
- Creamed Honey Co Bee10 Cocoa Malt
- Creamed Honey Co Bee10 Cocoa Creme de menthe
- LOCOCO Company, hot cocoa - original spice
3.5 STARS
- Godavari Chocolate BonFiction Drinking Chocolate
3.0 STARS
- MOCO Banana Hot Chocolate
- MOCO Peppermint Hot Chocolate
- MOCO Mexican Hot Chocolate
MOST UNIQUE
5.0 STARS
4.5 STARS
- Delysia Chocolatier Gilded Brewing Drinking Chocolate with Espresso
- Delysia Chocolatier Lavender Drinking Chocolate
4.0 STARS
- Creamed Honey Co Bee10 Cocoa Malt
- Ambrosia Sipping Chocolate Ambrosia Salted Caramel Chocolate
- Creamed Honey Co Bee10 Cocoa original
- Creamed Honey Co Bee10 Cocoa Creme de menthe
- Panache Chocolatier Aztec Gold
- Cacaolab Corporation Limited Cacao Tea
- Panache Chocolatier Berry Bramble
- LOCOCO Company, hot cocoa - original spice
- Ambrosia Sipping Chocolate Ambrosia Hot Chocolate
- Delysia Chocolatier Pumpkin Spice Drinking Chocolate
3.5 STARS
- Panache Chocolatier Colombian Drinking Chocolate
- Godavari Chocolate BonFiction Drinking Chocolate
- MOCO Banana Hot Chocolate
- MOCO Mexican Hot Chocolate
3.0 STARS
- MOCO Peppermint Hot Chocolate
BEST OVERALL
GOLD
- Ambrosia Sipping Chocolate Ambrosia Hot Chocolate
- Delysia Chocolatier Gilded Brewing Drinking Chocolate with Espresso
SILVER
- Panache Chocolatier Colombian Drinking Chocolate
BRONZE
- Panache Chocolatier Aztec Gold
HONORABLE MENTION
- Ambrosia Sipping Chocolate Ambrosia Salted Caramel Chocolate
- Creamed Honey Co Bee10 Cocoa Malt
- Delysia Chocolatier Lavender Drinking Chocolate
JUDGES COMMENTS
- The Delysia Lavender was one of my favorites. Nice balance of lavender and chocolate. I also love the Gilded Brewing Chocolate. The espresso really boosted the chocolate flavor.
- Really great quality, very rich products, most can be made with more milk or water.
- Both of Ambrosia's submissions (Chocolate Ambrosia and Salted Caramel) were rich, delicious, and just as I love hot chocolate.
- "Such delicious choices.. innovative, unique, flavorful."
- TY Ambrosia for the tip to refrigerate and try the next day — it definitely improved the experience
- Ambrosia's hot chocolate and salted caramel had the texture and richness I enjoy in cocoa. Delysia's Gilded Brewing cocoa also had the texture and taste that this judge enjoys. Bananas and chocolate are both tropical and both go well together as shown by MOCO. I appreciate Godavari use of 90% cacao and cane sugar to make a tasty hot beverage. Panache's Aztec gold delivered the same quality that this judge appreciates.
Ambrosia lives to its name. Simply divine! Delysia Lavender is highly satisfying with the taste, aroma, richness, and a one-serving metal jar packaging. Pure perfection. Panache Berry Bramble has very interesting original taste, and a wonderful bouquet and richness. Good job! - CREAMED HONEY cornered the market on smooth. Had to sneak a taste right out of the jar. All three entries were masterful teaming honey with chocolate.
- To Bee10: Malt goes so beautifully well with chocolate, yet this classic pairing is too seldom seen these days. Thanks for reviving it! ...
- To Godavari: Indian chocolate is too rarely seen here in the USA. I greatly appreciate the chance to savor this rich treasure and I think consumers would love to see and hear more about it.
JUDGES COMMENTS
- Some products needs to be heated with the milk to fully disolve.
- Moco, the peppermint might be better toned down and complemented by additional sweetness.
- On a cold, dreary day, hot cocoa evokes warm childhood memories.Many of the cocoas do just that.This judge prefers more of the cocoa flavor and less of the added flavors and spices. Sipping chocolate is maybe a richer cocoa, but not necessarily.
- Regarding MOCO's Aztec Gold: Personally, I'm "over" the hot-pepper fad, not that (to be honest) I really ever liked it to begin with. Are there consumers out there who really want to drink hot-spiced hot cocoa? I'm not sure. ...
- Regarding LOCOCO: mushroom-adaptogen products are still a niche market. I appreciate this company's courage in producing this wellness-focused line, but I'm not sure that the general populace is ready for it.
