by The Chocolate Salon Comment Closed

We are proud to present the results of the 2023 VEGAN CHOCOLATE AWARDS Competition.

The International Chocolate Salon Awards for the 2023 VEGAN CHOCOLATE 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.

2023 VEGAN CHOCOLATE AWARD RESULTS

 

Best Ingredient Combinations

GOLD

  • aL chocoLat Boutique Mimosa

SILVER

  • Lulubee Artisanal Chocolates Strawberry Rhubarb Bonbon

BRONZE

  • Nature's Garden Strawberry Oatmilk Chocolate Almonds
  • Sonoma Chocolatiers Double Cherry Hazelnut Bar

HONORABLE MENTION

  • aL chocoLat Boutique Tahini Crisp
  • Delysia Chocolatier Cardamom pistachio rose dark chocolate bar
  • Sandhill Chocolate Company 47% Spanish Horchata
  • Sonoma Chocolatiers Lemon Coconut Pistachio truffle

Best Taste

GOLD

  • aL chocoLat Boutique Mimosa
  • Lulubee Artisanal Chocolates Strawberry Rhubarb Bonbon

SILVER

  • Sandhill Chocolate Company 47% Spanish Horchata
  • Lulubee Artisanal Chocolates Almond Caramel Crunch Bonbon
  • Sonoma Chocolatiers Salted Caramel Pecan Turtle

BRONZE

  • aL chocoLat Boutique Tahini Crisp
  • The Toffee Merchant Vegan Classic Toffee

HONORABLE MENTION

  • Sonoma Chocolatiers Double Cherry Hazelnut Bar
  • MFG Toffee & Bark Company California Strawberry Coriander
  • Grupo CIMA Dorado SRL Chocopunto by Mabel 95% DARK OKO CARIBE
  • Grupo CIMA Dorado SRL Chocopunto by Mabel 60% COCONUT MILK

Best Texture

GOLD

  • aL chocoLat Boutique Tahini Crisp

SILVER

  • Lulubee Artisanal Chocolates Strawberry Rhubarb Bonbon
  • Grupo CIMA Dorado SRL Chocopunto by Mabel 95% DARK OKO CARIBE
  • Grupo CIMA Dorado SRL Chocopunto by Mabel 60% COCONUT MILK
  • Sonoma Chocolatiers Lemon Coconut Pistachio truffle
  • Grupo CIMA Dorado SRL Chocopunto by Mabel 55% OKO CARIBE
  • Sandhill Chocolate Company 50% Oat Milk & Sea Salt

BRONZE

  • aL chocoLat Boutique Mimosa
  • Sandhill Chocolate Company 47% Spanish Horchata
  • Lulubee Artisanal Chocolates Almond Caramel Crunch Bonbon
  • Sonoma Chocolatiers Salted Caramel Pecan Turtle
  • The Toffee Merchant Vegan Classic Toffee
  • Sonoma Chocolatiers Double Cherry Hazelnut Bar
  • KakaoZon Chocolate Organic Vegan Coconut White Chocolate

HONORABLE MENTION

  • MFG Toffee & Bark Company California Strawberry Coriander
  • Nature's Garden Strawberry Oatmilk Chocolate Almonds
  • Delysia Chocolatier Cardamom pistachio rose dark chocolate bar
  • aL chocoLat Boutique Sweet Fig & Walnut
  • 7th Heaven Inc White & Cookies Chocolate Treat Bar
  • PLAYin CHOC Organic Peruvian Dark Chocolate

Most Unique

GOLD

  • aL chocoLat Boutique Tahini Crisp

SILVER

  • Delysia Chocolatier Cardamom pistachio rose dark chocolate bar

BRONZE

  • Sonoma Chocolatiers Lemon Coconut Pistachio truffle
  • aL chocoLat Boutique Mimosa
  • Delysia Chocolatier Harmony of Gaia (A Symphony of Earth-Inspired Vegan Chocolates)

HONORABLE MENTION

  • MFG Toffee & Bark Company California Strawberry Coriander
  • Nature's Garden Strawberry Oatmilk Chocolate Almonds

Best Dark Chocolate

GOLD

  • Grupo CIMA Dorado SRL Chocopunto by Mabel 95% DARK OKO CARIBE
  • Grupo CIMA Dorado SRL Chocopunto by Mabel 55% OKO CARIBE

SILVER

  • Delysia Chocolatier Cardamom pistachio rose dark chocolate bar
  • Grupo CIMA Dorado SRL Chocopunto by Mabel 60% COCONUT MILK
  • PLAYin CHOC Organic Peruvian Dark Chocolate

BRONZE

  • Sandhill Chocolate Company 50% Oat Milk & Sea Salt
  • The Toffee Merchant Vegan Classic Toffee

HONORABLE MENTION

  • aL chocoLat Boutique Tahini Crisp
  • aL chocoLat Boutique Mimosa
  • Delysia Chocolatier Harmony of Gaia (A Symphony of Earth-Inspired Vegan Chocolates)
  • Lulubee Artisanal Chocolates Strawberry Rhubarb Bonbon
  • Sonoma Chocolatiers Double Cherry Hazelnut Bar
  • Lulubee Artisanal Chocolates Almond Caramel Crunch Bonbon
  • Delysia Chocolatier Cosmos delight
  • KakaoZon Chocolate Organic Vegan Milk Chocolate

Best Vegan Milk Chocolate

GOLD

  • PLAYin CHOC Organic Peruvian M.lk chocolate

SILVER

  • Sandhill Chocolate Company 50% Oat Milk & Sea Salt
  • KakaoZon Chocolate Organic Vegan Milk Chocolate
  • Nature's Garden Strawberry Oatmilk Chocolate Almonds

BRONZE

  • Grupo CIMA Dorado SRL Chocopunto by Mabel 60% COCONUT MILK

HONORABLE MENTION

  • aL chocoLat Boutique Mimosa
  • Sandhill Chocolate Company 47% Spanish Horchata
  • 7th Heaven Inc Caramel and Sea Salt Chocolate Treat Bar

Best Flavored Chocolate

GOLD

  • Sandhill Chocolate Company 47% Spanish Horchata
  • Lulubee Artisanal Chocolates Strawberry Rhubarb Bonbon
  • Delysia Chocolatier Cosmos delight

SILVER

  • Sandhill Chocolate Company 50% Oat Milk & Sea Salt
  • Nature's Garden Strawberry Oatmilk Chocolate Almonds
  • aL chocoLat Boutique Mimosa
  • Delysia Chocolatier Cardamom pistachio rose dark chocolate bar
  • Sonoma Chocolatiers Lemon Coconut Pistachio truffle
  • MFG Toffee & Bark Company California Strawberry Coriander
  • aL chocoLat Boutique Sweet Fig & Walnut
  • KakaoZon Chocolate Organic Vegan Coconut White Chocolate

BRONZE

  • 7th Heaven Inc Caramel and Sea Salt Chocolate Treat Bar
  • aL chocoLat Boutique Tahini Crisp
  • The Toffee Merchant Vegan Classic Toffee
  • Delysia Chocolatier Harmony of Gaia (A Symphony of Earth-Inspired Vegan Chocolates)
  • Sonoma Chocolatiers Double Cherry Hazelnut Bar
  • Sonoma Chocolatiers Salted Caramel Pecan Turtle

Top Vegan Chocolate

GOLD

  • aL chocoLat Boutique Mimosa

SILVER

  • Lulubee Artisanal Chocolates Strawberry Rhubarb Bonbon

BRONZE

  • Delysia Chocolatier Cardamom pistachio rose dark chocolate bar
  • aL chocoLat Boutique Tahini Crisp
  • Grupo CIMA Dorado SRL Chocopunto by Mabel 60% COCONUT MILK
  • Lulubee Artisanal Chocolates Almond Caramel Crunch Bonbon

HONORABLE MENTION

  • Sandhill Chocolate Company 47% Spanish Horchata
  • Nature's Garden Strawberry Oatmilk Chocolate Almonds
  • Sonoma Chocolatiers Lemon Coconut Pistachio truffle
  • MFG Toffee & Bark Company California Strawberry Coriander
  • The Toffee Merchant Vegan Classic Toffee
  • Grupo CIMA Dorado SRL Chocopunto by Mabel 95% DARK OKO CARIBE

STAR RATINGS

4.5 STARS

  • aL chocoLat Boutique Mimosa
  • Sonoma Chocolatiers Double Cherry Hazelnut Bar
  • Grupo CIMA Dorado SRL Chocopunto by Mabel 95% DARK OKO CARIBE
  • Lulubee Artisanal Chocolates Strawberry Rhubarb Bonbon
  • Sonoma Chocolatiers Salted Caramel Pecan Turtle
  • aL chocoLat Boutique Tahini Crisp
  • Grupo CIMA Dorado SRL Chocopunto by Mabel 55% OKO CARIBE

4 STARS

  • Grupo CIMA Dorado SRL Chocopunto by Mabel 60% COCONUT MILK
  • Sonoma Chocolatiers Lemon Coconut Pistachio truffle
  • aL chocoLat Boutique Sweet Fig & Walnut
  • Delysia Chocolatier Cardamom pistachio rose dark chocolate bar
  • Lulubee Artisanal Chocolates Almond Caramel Crunch Bonbon
  • Nature's Garden Strawberry Oatmilk Chocolate Almonds
  • Sandhill Chocolate Company 50% Oat Milk & Sea Salt
  • Sandhill Chocolate Company 47% Spanish Horchata
  • MFG Toffee & Bark Company California Strawberry Coriander
  • Delysia Chocolatier Cosmos delight
  • PLAYin CHOC Organic Peruvian Dark Chocolate

3.5 STARS

  • 7th Heaven Inc White & Cookies Chocolate Treat Bar
  • 7th Heaven Inc Caramelized Coconut Chocolate Snack Bar
  • Delysia Chocolatier Harmony of Gaia (A Symphony of Earth-Inspired Vegan Chocolates)
  • PLAYin CHOC Organic Peruvian M.lk chocolate
  • The Toffee Merchant Vegan Classic Toffee

3 STARS

  • 7th Heaven Inc Caramel and Sea Salt Chocolate Treat Bar
  • KakaoZon Chocolate Organic Vegan Milk Chocolate
  • KakaoZon Chocolate Organic Vegan Coconut White Chocolate

JUDGES' COMMENTS

FAVORITES

  • Lulubee Artisanal Chocolates Strawberry Rhubarb Bonbon
  • Delysia is also always excellent.
  • Sandhill bars had excellent texture/flavor and beautiful packaging.
  • Sonoma is excellent in general.
  • Al chocolate mimosa and Mabel 95%
  • Toffee Merchant and Al chocolat Mimosa
  • al ChocoLat Boutique's Mimosa "wine" me over.
  • The fruit bon bon truffles yummy! Lemon citrus chocolate, toffee, cookies + cream
  • aL chocoLat Boutique Mimosa was a pretty bonbon, an interesting experience, and a tasty orange milk chocolate
  • Super tasty truffles both from Lulubee and aL chocolat. Crisp snap to the chocolate and delightful flavor combinations/textures.
  • Delysia truffles, Sonoma Chocolatiers truffles, aL chocoLat truffles all excellent!
  • Sonoma Chocolatiers Double Cherry Hazelnut Bar

COMMENTS

  • Chocopunto by Mabel makes excellent quality chocolate bars with exquisite texture and flavor for dark chocolate connoisseurs.
  • Delysia continues to make unique flavored bonbons that just happen to be vegan.
  • Sonoma Chocolatiers' chocolate treats are very imaginative and surprising.
  • Lulubee's Strawberry Rhubarb bonbon was a treat in every sense - a pretty exterior, a delicate thin shell and bursting with rich flavor.
  • I was glad to see ChocoPunto and PlayinChoc improved their chocolates to earn 3 or 4 stars from me this time
  • The Strawberry Almonds are very tasty, but I cannot understand why the company is using Red Dye 40 in their vegan "nature's garden" product. Just because modified corn starch is plant based, doesn't mean you should use it in your product.
  • Thank you, Delysia, for expanding your range of mildly spiced flavors, your truffles are getting better and better!
  • aL chocoLat always comes up with original and memorable flavor profiles, very good job!
  • Nature's Garden Strawberry Almonds make one forget dairy, this vegan treat is the best!
  • Chocopunto found a secret of making vegan chocolate smooth and creamy, thank you!
  • PLAYinChoc is a great success, not only in organic ingredients and wonderful taste, but also in a nicely portioned and packaged bars.
  • Sonoma Chocolatiers Double Cherry Hazelnut Bar was my favorite, because I've loved the cherry-chocolate combination for as long as I can remember ... all the way back to chocolate-covered cherries (not as good as Sonoma's version) at my grandparents' apartment when I was 8. Sonoma's version is rich, indulgent and masterful, merging the sweet simple juiciness of cherries with the velvety subtlety of high-quality chocolate.
  •  aL chocoLate's chocolates are dazzlingly gorgeous. Each one looks like a precious jewel.
  • Lulubee's domed chocolates look almost too beautiful to eat: magically lustrous and perfectly shaped. [I ate them anyway. Couldn't resist.]
  • Would love Delysia to also switch to non-plastic. I appreciate Play-IN using compostable packaging. Many of the vegan chocolates use too much coconut and coconut flavoring and too soft, I would like them more if they were just simple dark chocolates that were vegan.
  • Love all the flavor profile combinations, unique, fruit + nuts are favorites! Love tropical flavors, passion fruit, berries, strawberry favorite! more please! mango or raspberry or banana purée or chocolate covered fruit blueberries… like texture crunch pecans favorite or walnuts or macademia nuts… Aloha ~ Mahalo! 🤙🏻
  • In my opinion, the first ingredient of any Chocolate Bar should be Chocolate. Not Sugar. All entries with sugar as the first ingredient automatically lose a star from me. It's nice that the sugar is organic, but this category is about chocolate, not candy so i expect the first ingredient on all bars to be Cacao related.

     

  • The Toffee Merchant, great job on clarifying that your sugar is bone char free, I suspect many of these other "vegan" products do not make that distinction. I will 100% be recommending your toffee to vegan friends, it's so tasty too.
  • MFG Toffee & Bark Co. Great ingredient combination in California Strawberry Coriander Bark! Keep experimenting with spices, you do it well!

 

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