by The Chocolate Salon Comment Closed

We are proud to present the results of the 2021 CHOCOLATE BAR AWARDS Competition.

The International Chocolate Salon Awards for the 2021 CHOCOLATE BAR 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.

2021 CHOCOLATE BAR AWARD RESULTS

 

Best Ingredient Combinations

 

GOLD

  • Wild Peaks Chocolates Black sesame and almond praline in white chocolate

SILVER

  • Coco Jolie Persian Paradise Bar

BRONZE

  • Michael’s Chocolates Sour Cherry Pecan Tablet

HONORABLE MENTION

  • Panache Chocolatier Caramel Macchiato Hazelnut Bar
  • Treat Dreams Aussie Pavlova Bar

Best Taste

 

GOLD

  • Wild Peaks Chocolates Black sesame and almond praline in white chocolate

SILVER

  • Michael’s Chocolates Sour Cherry Pecan Tablet

BRONZE

  • Coco Jolie Persian Paradise Bar
  • Treat Dreams Aussie Pavlova Bar

HONORABLE MENTION

  • Panache Chocolatier Caramel Macchiato Hazelnut Bar
  • Wild Peaks Chocolates Hazelnut and almond praline in dark chocolate (with a touch or guerande fleur de sel)
  • Delysia Chocolatier Apple pie milk chocolate bark
  • Endorfin Foods Turkish Coffee
  • Ratza Chocolate Lemongrass Thai Lime
  • THE GOOD CHOCOLATE 65% Coconut Turmeric Zero Sugar Chocolate Bar

Best Texture

 

GOLD

  • Wild Peaks Chocolates Black sesame and almond praline in white chocolate
  • Michael’s Chocolates Sour Cherry Pecan Tablet
  • Treat Dreams Aussie Pavlova Bar

SILVER

  • Coco Jolie Persian Paradise Bar
  • EHChocolaiter All Star Almond Bar

BRONZE

  • Wild Peaks Chocolates Hazelnut and almond praline in dark chocolate (with a touch or guerande fleur de sel)
  • Hu Hazelnut Butter
  • Treat Dreams Peanut Crunch Bar
  • Ratza Chocolate Strawberry Tulsi

HONORABLE MENTION

  • Panache Chocolatier Caramel Macchiato Hazelnut Bar
  • Coco Jolie Aloha Bar
  • Panache Chocolatier Spiced Italian Amaretto Bar
  • Moser Roth Orange & Almond Chocolate Bar
  • Wild Peaks Chocolates Peanut praline and raspberry jelly in milk chocolate
  • Endorfin Foods Coconut Cream
  • Treat Dreams Cookies + Cream Bar

Most Unique

 

GOLD

  • Coco Jolie Persian Paradise Bar

SILVER

  • Treat Dreams Aussie Pavlova Bar

BRONZE

  • Delysia Chocolatier Apple pie milk chocolate bark

HONORABLE MENTION

  • Ratza Chocolate Strawberry Tulsi
  • Treat Dreams Cookies + Cream Bar

Best Dark Chocolate Bar

 

GOLD

  • Honduras Chocolate Company Gourmet Dark Chocolate 75% Cacao

SILVER

  • Mendoá Chocolates 70% Cacau Clássico
  • Nantucket Faraway Chocolate 81% Dark Chocolate - "Unganisha"

BRONZE

  • Wild Peaks Chocolates Hazelnut and almond praline in dark chocolate (with a touch or guerande fleur de sel)
  • Honduras Chocolate Company Gourmet Dark Chocolate 80% Cacao
  • Honduras Chocolate Company Gourmet Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao

HONORABLE MENTION

  • Michael’s Chocolates Sour Cherry Pecan Tablet
  • Endorfin Foods Turkish Coffee
  • Delysia Chocolatier Pecan cayenne dark chocolate bark
  • SELEUSS Chocolates XOCO 85%
  • Mendoá Chocolates 60% Cacau com Acerola

Best Milk Chocolate Bar

 

GOLD

  • Delysia Chocolatier Apple pie milk chocolate bark
  • Wild Peaks Chocolates Peanut praline and raspberry jelly in milk chocolate
  • Choceur Mini Creamy Milk Chocolate Bar

SILVER

  • Treat Dreams Peanut Crunch Bar

BRONZE

  • Chocolat Inn & Café Appalachian Milk Chocolate

HONORABLE MENTION

  • Endorfin Foods Coconut Cream

Best Flavored Chocolate Bar

 

GOLD

  • Wild Peaks Chocolates Hazelnut and almond praline in dark chocolate (with a touch or guerande fleur de sel)

SILVER

  • Coco Jolie Persian Paradise Bar
  • Wild Peaks Chocolates Black sesame and almond praline in white chocolate
  • Panache Chocolatier Caramel Macchiato Hazelnut Bar

BRONZE

  • Michael’s Chocolates Sour Cherry Pecan Tablet

HONORABLE MENTION

  • Treat Dreams Aussie Pavlova Bar
  • Wild Peaks Chocolates Peanut praline and raspberry jelly in milk chocolate
  • Treat Dreams Peanut Crunch Bar
  • EHChocolaiter All Star Almond Bar
  • Moser Roth Orange & Almond Chocolate Bar
  • Ratza Chocolate Strawberry Tulsi
  • Endorfin Foods Turkish Coffee
  • Chocolat Inn & Café Espresso Dark Chocolate
  • Ratza Chocolate Lemongrass Thai Lime
  • Coco Jolie Aloha Bar

Best Bar Design & Art (non packaging)

 

GOLD

  • Coco Jolie Persian Paradise Bar

SILVER

  • Coco Jolie Aloha Bar

BRONZE

  • Chocolat Inn & Café White Lightin' Moonshine Dark Chocolate

HONORABLE MENTION

  • Wild Peaks Chocolates Black sesame and almond praline in white chocolate
  • Michael’s Chocolates Sour Cherry Pecan Tablet

Best Chocolate Bar

 

GOLD

  • Michael’s Chocolates Sour Cherry Pecan Tablet

SILVER

  • Coco Jolie Persian Paradise Bar
  • Wild Peaks Chocolates Black sesame and almond praline in white chocolate

BRONZE

  • Panache Chocolatier Caramel Macchiato Hazelnut Bar
  • Wild Peaks Chocolates Hazelnut and almond praline in dark chocolate (with a touch or guerande fleur de sel)

HONORABLE MENTION

  • Mendoá Chocolates 60% Cacau com Coco Queimado
  • Honduras Chocolate Company Gourmet Dark Chocolate 75% Cacao
  • Treat Dreams Aussie Pavlova Bar
  • Panache Chocolatier Salt and Pepper Caramel Peanut Bar
  • Delysia Chocolatier Apple pie milk chocolate bark
  • Honduras Chocolate Company Gourmet Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao
  • Wild Peaks Chocolates Peanut praline and raspberry jelly in milk chocolate
  • EHChocolaiter All Star Almond Bar
  • Ratza Chocolate Lemongrass Thai Lime
  • THE GOOD CHOCOLATE 65% Coconut Turmeric Zero Sugar Chocolate Bar
  • Honduras Chocolate Company Gourmet Dark Chocolate 80% Cacao
  • SELEUSS Chocolates XOCO 85%

STAR RATINGS

 

4.5 STARS

  • Wild Peaks Chocolates Black sesame and almond praline in white chocolate
  • Coco Jolie Persian Paradise Bar
  • Wild Peaks Chocolates Hazelnut and almond praline in dark chocolate (with a touch or guerande fleur de sel)
  • Coco Jolie Aloha Bar
  • Michael’s Chocolates Sour Cherry Pecan Tablet
  • Treat Dreams Aussie Pavlova Bar
  • Wild Peaks Chocolates Peanut praline and raspberry jelly in milk chocolate

4 STARS

  • Honduras Chocolate Company Gourmet Dark Chocolate 75% Cacao
  • Treat Dreams Peanut Crunch Bar
  • EHChocolaiter All Star Almond Bar
  • Honduras Chocolate Company Gourmet Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao
  • Panache Chocolatier Caramel Macchiato Hazelnut Bar
  • Endorfin Foods Turkish Coffee
  • Panache Chocolatier Salt and Pepper Caramel Peanut Bar
  • Endorfin Foods Coconut Cream
  • Honduras Chocolate Company Gourmet Dark Chocolate 80% Cacao
  • Treat Dreams Cookies + Cream Bar
  • Delysia Chocolatier Pecan cayenne dark chocolate bark
  • Ratza Chocolate Lemongrass Thai Lime

3.5 STARS

  • Mendoá Chocolates 60% Cacau com Coco Queimado
  • Panache Chocolatier Spiced Italian Amaretto Bar
  • Hu Hazelnut Butter
  • Nantucket Faraway Chocolate 81% Dark Chocolate - "Unganisha"
  • SELEUSS Chocolates XOCO 85%
  • Moser Roth Orange & Almond Chocolate Bar
  • Mendoá Chocolates 70% Cacau Clássico
  • Ratza Chocolate Strawberry Tulsi
  • Ratza Chocolate Hopped Citrus
  • Delysia Chocolatier Apple pie milk chocolate bark
  • Mendoá Chocolates 60% Cacau com Acerola
  • Chocolat Inn & Café Espresso Dark Chocolate
  • Coco Jolie Very Berry Bar - Mother's Day Edition

3 STARS

  • Delysia Chocolatier Snack mix / Everything dark chocolate bark
  • Hu Almond Butter + Puffed Quinoa
  • Hu Salty
  • THE GOOD CHOCOLATE 65% Coconut Turmeric Zero Sugar Chocolate Bar
  • Choceur Mini Creamy Milk Chocolate Bar
  • Choceur Mini Rich Dark Chocolate Bar
  • Chocolat Inn & Café Appalachian Milk Chocolate
  • SELEUSS Chocolates Blueberry & Blueberry
  • THE GOOD CHOCOLATE 65% Himalayan Salt Zero Sugar Chocolate Bar
  • Chocolat Inn & Café White Lightin' Moonshine Dark Chocolate

JUDGES' COMMENTS

FAVORITES

  • My personal favorite chocolate bar is the Wild Peaks white chocolate with black sesame! I loved the combination of the sweet/bitter flavors.
  • Aldi milk and dark....simplicity and perfection
  • Persian paradise
  • wild peaks black sesame
  • Treat Dreams, Wild Peaks, Michael's, Coco Jolie, Ratza, Endorfin Foods, Hu
  • Wild Peaks Chocolates' black sesame and almond praline in white chocolate was a very pleasant surprise. I quite liked it.
  • Michael's Chocolates Sour Cherry Pecan Tablet
  • Panache Persian Paradise bar is out of this world good. New flavors, everything "advertised" was delivered. Absolutely delicious concoction!
  • Wild Peaks Hazelnut Praline
  • Hu Hazelnut Butter
  • Wild Peaks Black sesame
  • To select one favorite is difficult, but I think the Michael's Sour cherry is one I would never just be able to have one sample. The combination of sour cherry, rich chocolate and pecan was perfect
  • There were so many interesting and excellent bars that it's difficult to choose just one. I especially liked the intriguing Persian Paradise bar with its wonderful exotic flavors, caramelized pistachios and rose petals. I'd love to serve it after a Middle Eastern dinner.
  • I also like the exotic flavor combination of Endorfin's Dark Chocolate Coffee Cardamom Coconut Mylk bar.
  • Wild Peak's Black Sesame Praline was a surprise winner for me. I also really liked Wild Peak's nut praline bars.
  • Wild Peaks Chocolates Black sesame and almond praline in white chocolate
  • Mendoá Chocolates 60% Cacau com Acerola... it was the most surprising, never tasted acerola in chocolate before!
  • Coco Jolie's Persian Paradise Bar is my definite favorite. It's exquisite, stunningly colorful, flavorful, with a perfectly balanced flavor profile.
  • Treat Dreams' Aussie Pavlova bar is a treat. White vegan chocolate is a delight with its bright, tart burst of berry flavor.
  • Coco Jolie's Aloha Bar is a delight for the eyes. Stunning white chocolate feathering, studded with crystalized chunks of mango, pineapple and coconut. Even the back of the bar is perfectly dusted in gold to highlight the geodesic texture.
  • Michael's Chocolates presents a beautiful Sour Cherry and Pecan chocolate tablet, that shows off it's star ingredients and flourishes in the awesome taste combination. 

COMMENTS & QUOTES

  • Very impressed with Treat Dreams. They radically changed my perception of vegan chocolate. The creators' talent and love shine through!
  • Wild Peaks are unbelievably delightful in each single bite! Dangerous for addictive personalities. Exquisite taste, texture, and ingredients. Great all around.
  • Michael's is seasoned (in terms of experience), reputable, creative, always delicious, and never disappointing. Sour cherry and pecan by Michael's is a match made in haven.
  • Coco Jolie's artful bars are not only tasty, but very beautiful to behold. Perfect for gift-giving.
  • Ratza knows how to work with unusual ingredients, their chocolate bars with whimsical fillings are unique and memorable.
  • Endorfin Foods very creative ingredients, all play out well in addictive tastes.
  • Hu strikes a perfect balance between interesting ingredients, taste, and texture.
  • Panache is all good, luxuriously layered, with great chocolate qualities and satisfying fillings. Good job, and way to go!
  • Michaels Chocolates always pushing the boundaries of flavors and tastes to produce new and exciting chocolates.
  • The almond flavor of EHChocolatier Allstar Almond better is superb.
  • The Seleuss Chocolates XOCO was smooth and creamy that was enhanced by the crunchy nibs.
  • Panache should keep doing whatever it's doing, because their results are absolute bliss!
  • Honduras has created the perfect simple dark chocolate mixture, great consistency and all the flavors of the bean's environment come through. Delightful
  •  Choceur Mini Creamy Milk Chocolate Bar - creamy, melting texture, overly sweet, one dimensional, low flavor intensity, clearly commerical
  • Choceur Mini Rich Dark Chocolate Bar - sticky, simple, sweet, nutty flavors, M- intenstiy
  • Moser Roth Orange & Almond Chocolate Bar - firmer texture, pleasing orange aroma and flavor dominant, most complex
  • Chocolat Inn & Café White Lightin' Moonshine Dark Chocolate - chalky, sweet, one dimensional, boozy on finish
  • Chocolat Inn & Café Appalachian Milk Chocolate - creamy, balanced, bourbon-like flavors, vaguely bitter finish
  • Chocolat Inn & Café Espresso Dark Chocolate - excellent balance, M sweetness and intensity
  • Coco Jolie Aloha Bar -visually appealing, sweet and not particularly complex, low flavor intensity, dried fruit confined to border
  • Coco Jolie Persian Paradise Bar - busy looking, floral and exotic, very complex flavors, not really about the chocolate, and good texture and melt
  • Coco Jolie Very Berry Bar - Mother's Day Edition
  • M flavor intensity, seems stingy on the nuts
  • Delysia Chocolatier Apple pie milk chocolate bark - dried apple and cinnamon flavors, somewhat artificial, dense and creamy, low intensity
  • Delysia Chocolatier Snack mix / Everything dark chocolate bark - pretzels tasted stale, not well distributed, no other flavors obvious in single bite
  • EHChocolaiter All Star Almond Bar - very sweet, marzipan-like flavor
  • Endorfin Foods Coconut Cream - low chocolate content, vaguely bitter pencil shavings, better second taste, excellent, balanced flavor combination, low sugar such a bonus
  • Honduras Chocolate Company Gourmet Dark Chocolate 80% Cacao - better suited for baking than eating, light, clean, bourbon-like flavors
  • Honduras Chocolate Company Gourmet Dark Chocolate 75% Cacao - most complex, floral, clearly single-source beans
  • Honduras Chocolate Company Gourmet Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao - creamy, better for eating, low sugar and complex flavors
  • Hu Hazelnut Butter - best flavor and texture combo for HU, high % of chocolate, only coconut sugar
  • Hu Almond Butter + Puffed Quinoa coff-like flavor, not much almond, texture/flavor not improved by quinoa
  • Hu Salty - gritty, grainy, molassas-like, unappealing
  • Mendoá Chocolates 70% Cacau Clássico - liquor-like and savory bitter, attractive packaging
  • Mendoá Chocolates 60% Cacau com Acerola - artificial flavors that fight with and mask the chocolate
  • Mendoá Chocolates 60% Cacau com Coco Queimado - nice texture and flavor of toasted coconut flakes without masking chocolate
  • Michael’s Chocolates Sour Cherry Pecan Tablet - smooth melt, clearly very high quality, visually appealing, sparse additions
  • Nantucket Faraway Chocolate 81% Dark Chocolate - "Unganisha" - Borubon-like flavors, very intense, decent texture. Floral, complex, rich with vaguely artificial flavors of menthol or camphor
  • Panache Chocolatier Salt and Pepper Caramel Peanut Bar - tender, balanced, M intensity, elevated ingredients
  • Panache Chocolatier Caramel Macchiato Hazelnut Bar - complex rich, mellow, M sweet
  • Ratza Chocolate Strawberry Tulsi - cool, herbal, tulsi is an adaptogenic herb that's better suited to tea, as the amount and flavors aren't beneficial here
  • Ratza Chocolate Lemongrass Thai Lime - complex and balanced reminds me of tom yum soup, a Willy Wonka moment there..
  • Ratza Chocolate Hopped Citrus - Belize super, super dark, the darkest, not particularly hoppy, slightly terpinic
  • SELEUSS Chocolates Blueberry & Blueberry
  • SELEUSS Chocolates XOCO 85% - complex blend of multiple single source, nibs have a nice texture and mellow flavor
  • THE GOOD CHOCOLATE 65% Himalayan Salt Zero Sugar Chocolate Bar - erythritol obvious due to M- intensity, salt shows best on finish
  • THE GOOD CHOCOLATE 65% Coconut Turmeric Zero Sugar Chocolate Bar - successful flavor combo, tumeric is trendy, anti inflamatory, erythritol is NOT obvious here
    really very complex, lovely tropical flavors, interesting texture, best fruit combo
  • Treat Dreams Peanut Crunch Bar - fun texture contrast with smooth melt, fresh nuts, gritty, overly sweet, cloying coconut
  • Wild Peaks Chocolates Black sesame and almond praline in white chocolate complex, interesting combo, toasty, nutty, overly sweet
  • Wild Peaks Chocolates Hazelnut and almond praline in dark chocolate (with a touch of guerande fleur de sel) delicate texture, balanced filling, rich , lux flavors
  • Wild Peaks Chocolates Peanut praline and raspberry jelly in milk chocolate - surprising, natural rasp flavor, milk chocolate was overtly sweet
  • The Coconut Turmeric Good Chocolate was quite intense and invigorating.
  • In general the Mendoa chocolates had a delicious long lasting flavor
  • The Coco Jolie Aloha Bar was deliciously light and bright on the taste buds.
  • The Honduras bars were exceptionally long lasting on the taste buds.
  • The EH Chocolatier had exceptional Almond flavor.
  • The Delysia Pecan Cayenne had the right amount of heat and nut flavor.
  • The strawberry flavor from the Ratza Chocolate Strawberry was strong and rich and memorable.
  • Treat Dreams really nailed creaminess in their vegan bars.
  • All of the ALDI bars were luscious, with the orange one nicely flavored -- not too strong or light.
  • Mendoá Chocolates (Cacau com Acerola): "An unexpected wave of lemony, sour acerola cherry suffuses your senses, with its deep red tones. Exquisite."
  • Endorfin Foods (Turkish Coffee); "Pulls you right into a Turkish café, with the hot afternoon sun beating down on the back of your neck. All you can do is surrender to this exquisite chocolate and feel the blessings of Turkish coffee course through your veins."
  • Panache Chocolatier (Caramel Macchiato Hazelnut Bar): "Takes you away to an Italian cafe... this is the perfect excuse not to drink coffee and have chocolate instead. Smooth, rich, dark espress flavor that would go fantastically well with any light dessert, from vanilla ice cream to puff pastries."
  • Ratza Chocolate (Lemongrass Thai Lime): "Never would I have thought you could make a Lemongrass Lime chocolate... so exquisite, so smooth, so subtle, you want it to linger forever... and it does, long after the sun has set."
  • Treat Dreams (Aussie Pavlova Bar): "Tastes like a flower garden in the tropics. A flower garden with marshmallows, that is. Every child's wildest dream!"
  • "Yum, Delysia Chocolatier gets kudos for perfectly capturing a warm spiced apple pie in a chocolate bar.
  • Good news for those who are watching sugar intake. The Good Chocolate does an amazing job with both their Himalayan Salt bar, and Coconut Turmeric bar. Yum!
  • Limiting your intake of sugar? Then Endorfin Foods has the chocolate bars for you! I love all their flavors, but the Coconut Cream is a stand-out.

 

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