The Best Caramels of 2020 Announced

We are proud to present the results of the 2020 CARAMEL AWARDS Competition.

The International Chocolate Salon Awards for the 2020 CARAMEL AWARDS are based on the combined total number of votes received by each entrant from the Judging Panel.

The Judging Panel consists of National and Regional Magazines, Newspaper and Blog Editors, plus Topic Experts, Local Chefs and Food Gurus.

The award winners below have the honor of being able to display and use the Official Award Winner title and award logos, as well as use items (such as the Award Winner lapel pin), as well as use Custom Award Certificates, and logo award merchandise.

• Hot Chocolat Vanilla Bean Caramel with Spicy Pecans

• Banyan Tree Chocolate Miss Betsy
• Baetz Chocolates Raspberry-Rose

• Panache Chocolatier Black Pepper Pistachio Carame

• Sweet Jules Gifts Farm Apple Spice Caramel
• Tandem Chocolates Blood Orange Caramel
• Dolce Lusso Confections Pecan Duet Caramel
• Jonboy caramels Absinthe with Black Salt Caramels
• CocoTutti Chocolates 4 Roses Whiskey in Caramel
• Sweet Mona’s Dark Passionfruit Ginger

• Echo Chocolate Dark Chocolate Sea-Salt Caramel

• Banyan Tree Chocolate Miss Betsy
• Dolce Lusso Confections European Egg Caramel
• CocoTutti Chocolates 4 Roses Whiskey in Caramel

• Echo Chocolate Dark Chocolate Sea-Salt Caramel

• Delysia Chocolatier Caramel delight chocolate truffle assortment

• Zocalisa Fine Chocolates Salt Caramel

• Sweet Jules Gifts Fleur de Sel Caramel
• Sweet Jules Gifts Farm Apple Spice Caramel
• SELEUSS Chocolates Munich 36%

• jonboy caramels Absinthe with Black Salt Caramels

• Banyan Tree Chocolate Miss Betsy
• Tandem Chocolates Blood Orange Caramel
• Hot Chocolat Vanilla Bean Caramel with Spicy Pecans

• Panache Chocolatier Black Pepper Pistachio Caramel
• CocoTutti Chocolates Whiskey in Chocolate Caramel

• Delysia Chocolatier Caramel delight chocolate truffle assortment
• Tandem Chocolates Blood Orange Caramel
• Dolce Lusso Confections European Egg Caramel
• jonboy caramels Absinthe with Black Salt Caramels
• Echo Chocolate Dark Chocolate Sea-Salt Caramel
• Kwoka Caramel Pistachio Sea Salt Caramel
• CocoTutti Chocolates Liquid Vanilla Caramel

• Banyan Tree Chocolate Miss Betsy
• Sweet Jules Gifts Fleur de Sel Caramel
• Sweet Jules Gifts Farm Apple Spice Caramel
• Sweet Jules Gifts Jules of Paris Caramel
• Dolce Lusso Confections Black Licorice Caramel
• SELEUSS Chocolates Munich 36%
• Chocolate Man LLC Habanero Caramel
• Michael's Chocolates Spiced Pear
• Sweet Nouveau Bourbon Maple Pecan
• Zocalisa Fine Chocolates Salt Caramel
• Baetz Chocolates Raspberry-Rose
• Kwoka Caramel Licorice Caramel
• Hot Chocolat Vanilla Bean Caramel with Spicy Pecans
• Sweet Mona’s Dark Passionfruit Ginger

• Sweet Nouveau Bourbon Maple Pecan
• CocoTutti Chocolates Liquid Vanilla Caramel
• CocoTutti Chocolates 4 Roses Whiskey in Caramel
• Michael's Chocolates Spiced Pear
• Echo Chocolate Dark Chocolate Sea-Salt Caramel
• Tandem Chocolates Blood Orange Caramel
• CocoTutti Chocolates Whiskey in Chocolate Caramel
• Kwoka Caramel Pistachio Sea Salt Caramel
• jonboy caramels Molasses Ginger Caramels

• Banyan Tree Chocolate Miss Betsy
• Sweet Jules Gifts Fleur de Sel Caramel
• Panache Chocolatier Black Pepper Pistachio Caramel
• Dolce Lusso Confections Pecan Duet Caramel
• Tandem Chocolates Apricot Cinnamon Caramel
• Sweet Jules Gifts Jules of Paris Caramel
• Dolce Lusso Confections European Egg Caramel
• jonboy caramels Absinthe with Black Salt Caramels
• Kwoka Caramel Licorice Caramel
• Hot Chocolat Vanilla Bean Caramel with Spicy Pecans
• Sweet Jules Gifts Farm Apple Spice Caramel
• Zocalisa Fine Chocolates Salt Caramel
• Sweet Nouveau Mexican Chili
• Delysia Chocolatier Caramel delight chocolate truffle assortment
• Baetz Chocolates Raspberry-Rose

• Sweet Mona’s Dark Passionfruit Ginger
• ALDI-exclusive Specially Selected Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels
• Panache Chocolatier Urban Red Wine Caramel
• Dolce Lusso Confections Black Licorice Caramel
• Delysia Chocolatier Rose orange blossom caramel chocolate truffle
• SELEUSS Chocolates Munich 36%
• Chocolate Man LLC Habanero Caramel
• Baetz Chocolates Black Magic

JUDGES' FAVORITES

• Sweet Jules Apple Spice caramels
• Sweet Nouveau Mexican Chili
• The Dolce Lusso European Egg Caramel was as nice as a caramel gets -- very smooth, creamy, and just the right chewiness. But Dolce Lusso really hit it out of the ballpark by adding chocolate and fresh pecans to their Pecan Duet Caramel. It was just a superb combination!
• Dolce Lusso European Egg Caramel, Dolce Lusso Black Licorice, Hot Chocolat Vanilla Bean, Kwoka Caramel Licorice Caramel
• Two personal favorites: One from each type of caramel: chewy or truffle. The Sweet Jules Apple Spic is acidic and very flavorable. I loved the Baetz Raspberry Rose
• Jonboy Caramels - Absinthe w/ Black Sea Salt.
• So many great choices: CocoTutti's Whiskey Caramel, Michael's Spiced Pear, Kwoka'sentries, Sweet Nouveau's entries, Sweet Jule's entries, and Chocolate Man's Habanero Caramel
• jonboy's Absinthe with Black Salt caramel stole the show!
• Coco Tutti, Sweet Nouveau Bourbon Maple Pecan, Dolce Lusso Pecan Duet, Delysia , Sweet Jules
• My personal favorites were the Tandem Chocolates Blood Orange Caramel, Banyan Tree Chocolatier Miss Betsy, Kwoka Caramel Pistachio Sea Salt Caramel, and jonboy caramels Absinthe w/ Black Salt Caramel.

JUDGES' COMMENTS

• Sweet Nouveau Mexican Chili has a lovely rounded heat that is JUST assertive enough without being overpowering.
• Panache Chocolatier: Your two entries (Black Pepper Pistachio Carmel and Urban Red Wine Caramel) were most creative, interesting and sophisticated. Sweet Nouveau: Loved your Bourbon Maple Pecan -- just a perfect balance of those flavors melded with creamy caramel. Zocalisa: Your tuxedo packaging and beautifully finished, perfectly salted caramel makes a fine, sophisticated party or wedding favor.
• jonboy molasses ginger - tasted just like a freshly baked gingerbread cookie from a bakery. Dolce Lusso European Egg Caramel - the most delicious flavor of an egg custard. Message to both Dolce Lusso Black Licorice & Kwoka Licorice - I personally don't like the taste of licorice, or at least I didn't THINK I did, until I tasted your two licorice caramels! Perfect balance of sweet, savory, caramel and licorice flavors. The subtlety was perfect! I absolutely loved both of these, which were each distinct in their flavor profiles.
• the Sweet Jules Apple Spice was so unexpectedly delicious. It's not often that caramel and apple are paired in such a satisfying way. the dolce Lusson European Egg Caramel brough back memories of my childhood when I enjoyed old fashioned stove top caramel that a friend's mother made every year. Michale's Chocolates always captures my attention and delights my taste buds and Michael's Chocolates Spiced Pear was at the top of my list. What a great holiday-or any time-- caramel!
• To jonboy: Jonboy's Absinthe with Black Salt caramels are like no other you've ever tasted. In fact, they redefine what it means to be a caramel. Waves of anise, fennel, and of course the storied absinthe will linger in your memory long after the caramel is gone. ~ Birgitte Rasine, author of "The Jaguar and the Cacao Tree" To Dolce Lusso: Dolce Lusso's Black Licorice caramels awaken all of your senses—the moment you make contact. A fresh blend of licorice root and anise oil infuse this caramel with a whole new way of pleasing your taste buds. While most licorice confectionary products make this extraordinary ingredient take a back seat, Dolce Lusso celebrates it — and then some. ~ Birgitte Rasine, author of "The Jaguar and the Cacao Tree" To Kwoka: Kowka's smooth Licorice Caramels hold just the right balance between the sweetness of caramel and the kick of licorice. ~ Birgitte Rasine, author of "The Jaguar and the Cacao Tree" To Sweet Mona: Passionfruit and ginger are rarely as well paired as in Sweet Mona's Dark Passionfruit Ginger caramel. The citrusy notes of passionfruit linger long, and close out with a light kick of fresh ginger. ~ Birgitte Rasine, author of "The Jaguar and the Cacao Tree"
• Baetz Chocolates caramels were beautiful to look out with stunning chocolate shell designs. Banyan Tree Chocolate's Miss Betsy's wonderful bright flavors just sings in the mouth! Hot Chocolate's pharaoh shaped Vanilla Bean Caramel w/ Spicy Pecans was a novel shaped treat. Loved Panache Chocolatier's Black Pepper Pistachio Caramel's simple elegance design which just beckoned to be savored. Sweet Jules Gifts' glittery red box entices you to open it and delights you with the neatly displayed wrapped caramels in elegant slender pieces. Tandem Chocolates' Blood Orange Caramel knocks your socks off with its burst of bright, citrusy flavor, oozing through the soft caramel which just melts in the mouth leaving the taste buds begging for more.
• Baetz, keep up the good creative work. Seleuss Chocolates perfect on all counts. Echo, thank you for the eye candy--I'm keeping the box. Zocalisa, a great taste in more than one sense.Tandem chocolates good for any occasion. Cocco Tutti excellent as always. Panache bold experiments with taste combinations successful! Banyan Tree just what the doctor ordered!