The Best Chocolate Gifts Collections for Valentines

There is a lot of great chocolate to chose from for romantic times such as Valentine’s Day.  It’s a lot easier to chose when you select from three that are top award winners

Panache Chocolatier “With Love” Valentine’s Day Truffle Collection

GOLD MEDAL

Judges Summary:

Panache wins the gold with their incredible with Love Box, which not only comes with a wood veneer box and ribbon, but also with a custom pamphlet that describes the providence and history of each of the chocolates. These chocolates include ruby passion from Brazil, pistachio rose from Spain, raspberry noir from France, and spiced vanilla being from Madagascar. Of course the spherical design of these chocolates is very truffle-like, and they are each topped with a unique design, whether that is gold leaf, spices, or chocolate drizzle and cocoa powder. What is truly phenomenal about this collection is that the box extends outwards into three tiers, one of which contains the pamphlet, and the other two of which contain nine chocolates each, for a total of 18 chocolates. This gift is one that you want to be there forwhen it is opened, and once opened, you want to put it on display. Or at least, post a lot of photographs on Instagram.

From the chocolatier –

“Hand crafted, artisan truffles highlighting flavors from around the world.
Focus is on bringing flavors identified with regions and creating with a twist of uniqueness.
All created “With Love” by PanacheChocolatier”

chocolatekc.com


Craft-Chocolate Sweetheart

 

SILVER MEDAL

Judges Summary:

The Craft-Chocolate hazelnut and milk chocolate Irish cream is delicious and beautifully presented. The box design is simple yet elegant, and we love how the ribbon criss-crosses the heart in contrast with the arrangement of subtle pastel dots. The inside of the box is composed of two layers — two rows of chocolates — that are shaped like hearts and flowers. These caramels are a delicious luxury. The judges also loved the size of the packaging, which can be easily held in one hand but is substantial enough to be considered as a thoughtful splurge and gift.

From the chocolatier – 

“This Valentine gift gives heart shaped sweet chocolate to the one you hold sweet in your heart.”

https://www.craft-chocolate.com


Bella Sophia Chocolates Valentine’s Day Mix Box

 

BRONZE MEDAL

Judges Summary:

Bella Sophia‘s Valentine’s Day packaging is a gift within a gift. The outside artist paper is carefully folded and wrapped, while the box underneath features Bella Sophia’s trademark quilted box design. Inside of the box is delicate gold wrapping paper, which gives a sense of elegance and luxury. The gold is also reflected in some of the gold leaf that adorns various chocolates within. This box contains a variety of 16 chocolates, enough for the giver and the recipient to share together. They demonstrate a range of molding styles and chocolate techniques, as well as flavors, and colors. There is no chance of getting bored with this collection.

From the chocolatier – 

“Our mix box for Valentines day has a flavor for every chocolate lover in this box, with some hand painted bonbons, dark, milk, white, truffle, gianduja, nutted and pale d’or and hand dipped ganache.”

www.bellasophiachocolates.com


DELICIOUS TASTE: Chocolate Awards Announced for Best Toffee and Best White Chocolate

Toffee and White Chocolates may not first come to mind when you think of premium artisan chocolate, but they are definitely part of the category. More and more chocolatiers have found that both toffee and white chocolate can be made personally, with fresh ingredients, and using amazing flavor combinations.

With this in mind, TasteTV and the International Chocolate Salon have selected some of the top Toffees and White Chocolates from around the world. They come from the United States, Canada, Scandinavia, England, and other far flung sources. The results of the TOFFEE AWARDS and the WHITE CHOCOLATE AWARDS have been announced, and can be found at www.InternationalChocolateSalon.com

The Chocolate Judges Panel reviewed product submissions in categories such as Taste, Ingredient Combinations, Texture, Uniqueness, and Overall Experience, as well as others, to come to a final decision.

TOP TOFFEE

The International Chocolate Salon has now announced that the Top Toffees this year include:

Gold Medalists

  • – Tomo Toffee Dark Chocolate Toffee
  • – Crack’d Toffee Company LLC Crack’d Premium Dark Roast Toffee

Silver Medalists

  • – Holm Made Toffee Co. Oregon Hazelnut Toffee – Lavender
  • – Holm Made Toffee Co. Oregon Hazelnut Toffee – Cardamom and Vanilla
  • – Holm Made Toffee Co. Oregon Hazelnut Toffee – Himalayan Pink Salt
  • – Vollie Austin Inc. Oregoin Hazelnut Toffee

Bronze Medalists

  • – Heavenly Taste Toffee Dark Almond Toffee
  • – The Sweet Girl Pecan Bourbon Toffee

See all of the Toffee Awards results here, including Star Ratings and awards for Best Ingredients, Best Texture, Best Taste and more: https://www.internationalchocolatesalon.com/2019-toffee-award-winners-announced/

BEST WHITE CHOCOLATE

The International Chocolate Salon also announced that the Best White Chocolates this year include:

  • #1 – Oro de Cacao AG Oro de Cacao / Chocolat Dieter Meier – White Chocolate Guatemala 42%
  • #2 – St. Croix Chocolate Company Black and white bon bon box
  • #3 – Michael’s Chocolates Pomegranate Orange
  • #3 (tie) – Panache Chocolatier White Jasmine

See all of the White Chocolate Awards results here, including Star Ratings and awards for Best Ingredients, Best Texture, Best Taste and more: https://www.internationalchocolatesalon.com/2019-white-chocolate-awards-winners/

The Artisan Chocolate Awards are produced by TasteTV and the International Chocolate Salon. For more information, go to http://www.ArtisanChocolateAwards.com.
For more Information and to see additional results at the ICS, go to: http://www.internationalchocolatesalon.com

TasteTV Gift Guide: 10 Tasty Chocolates for the Vegan

What could be a better gift for the vegan in your life than an offering of artisan chocolate? The answer is “nothing.” Fortunately, there are a large number of vegan chocolates that you can enjoy.

LA Women in Chocolate Honored at the Los Angeles Chocolate Salon

 

At the Annual Los Angeles Chocolate Salon this Fall, several Women in Chocolate were honored by the INTERNATIONAL CHOCOLATE SALON for their contributions to the world of chocolate and chocolate culture. The International Chocolate Salon was founded in 2007 by TasteTV and TCB Cafe Publishing and Media, and is one of the premier international bodies celebrating and honoring artisan and premium chocolates and confections.

Pictured here: (front row, left to right) Marti Chocolatt, Food Market Gypsy, The Chocolate Project, (back row, left to right)  Raphio Chocolate, Amella Caramels, Valenza Chocolatier, author Carole Bloom, Hnina Gourmet, Bar Cacao.

THE CHOCOLATIERS AWARD recipients are selected based on either having received numerous chocolate salon awards over the years, or having made a significant impact in the world of taste and chocolate, particularly in the Los Angeles area. It also spotlights the growing number of women entrepreneurs, chocolatiers, confectioners, and pastry chefs that the Los Angeles Area and Southern California has supported.

The following are the announced recipients of the awards.


THE CHOCOLATIERS AWARD

LOS ANGELES Women in Chocolate: CHOCOLATIERS AWARD

  1.  Tonet Tibay, Marti Chocolatt
  2. Amy Jo Pedone, Valenza Chocolatier
  3. Amara Barroeta, Amara Chocolate
  4. Elena Kiamilev, Amella Caramels
  5. Michelle Crochet, Droga Chocolates
  6. Valerie Gordon, Valerie Confections
  7. Susie Norris, Food Market Gypsy
  8. Carol Bloom, Cookbook Author
  9. Ruth Kennison, Bonaparte Chocolate
  10. Vanessa Morgenstern-Kenan, Hnina Gourmet
  11. Danielle Laubach, Zenbunni Chocolatiers
  12. Joana Whittingham, Fera’wyn’s Artisan Chocolates
  13. Samantha McGinnis, Cowboy Toffee
  14. Elisia Otavi-Makmur, Raphio Chocolate
  15. Diane Kron Chocolatier
  16. Patricia Tsai, ChocoVivo
  17. Christine Sarioz, Milla Chocolates

In addition, the following have been named for Honorable Mention

  1. Jessica Ferraro, Bar Cacao
  2. Elyce Zahn, CocoTutti Chocolates
  3. Etty Benhamou, Le Mervetty

The Best Vegan Chocolates to Satisfy your Needs for Great Taste and Wellness

Vegan foods are taking the World by storm, and for good reason. They taste a lot better than they used to, and there are a lot more of them now than ever before. This is definitely true for vegan chocolate.

Warm Up! Awards for Best Hot Chocolate & Cocoa Announced

With the weather as cold as it is sometimes in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s good to know that there is award winning hot chocolate out there to soothe and please your mind and body.

See this year’s Winner rankings and ratings for some of the Best Hot Cocoa and Drinking Chocolate Awards! (www.hotchocolateawards.com)

TasteTV and the International Chocolate Salon have selected some of the top hot chocolates from around the World. If you are looking for some of the best, take a look at these and the results from our tasting panel’s luscious experience.

They include:

  • Chuao Chocolatier Spicy Maya
  • DAGOBA Organic Chocolate Xocolatl Drinking Chocolate with Chilies and Cinnamon
  • Quintessential Chocolates Co., Inc. “Chocolat’s Elixer”
  • Co Couture 60% classic organic hot chocolate mix
  • CACOCO, Inc. Fire Walker
  • Co Couture 70% classic organic hot chocolate mix
  • CACOCO, Inc. Midnight Mystic
  • Éclat Chocolate Hot Chocolate Reims
  • Amano Artisan Chocolate
  • CACOCO, Inc. The Original
  • Maribel Sweets Inc aztec 65% hot chocolate
  • Ticket Chocolate Raspberry Hot Chocolate on a Stick

 

To see more about the Hot Chocolate Awards, as well as rankings in categories such as Taste, Texture, and Ingredient Combinations, go to www.HotChocolateAwards.com or here: http://www.internationalchocolatesalon.com/4th-annual-hot-chocolate-award-winners/