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Friday, June 28, 2019

International Chocolate Salon 2019 Caramel Awards

I was a judge recently at the International Chocolate Salon Caramel Awards. Such a tough job, but someone has to do it. The caramels that were submitted were incredibly diverse and delicious. Some were traditional, some were chocolate enrobed, others a combination of different flavors within the caramel. The caramels were judged on taste, artistry, unique combinations, and and so much more. We had a diverse tasting panel as well. When it comes down to it, taste is up to the individual, but the chocolatiers really created some fabulous caramels.

2019 CARAMEL AWARDS Competition. The International Chocolate Salon Awards for the 2019 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. Here are the results.


 

Best Caramel Exterior Design

GOLD

  • St. Croix Chocolate Company Emperor's Garden (yuzu caramel and jasmine tea)

SILVER

  • Banyan Tree Chocolate Hibiscus Liquid Caramel
  • Tandem Chocolates Caramels

BRONZE

  • Delysia Chocolatier Banoffee pie chocolate truffle
  • The Chocolate Fetish African Queen
  • The Secret Chocolatier Bananas Foster

HONORABLE MENTION

  • Delysia Chocolatier Salty dog chocolate truffle
  • Theo Chocolate Honey Saffron Caramel
  • Zocalisa Fine Chocolates Pecan Caramel

Best Ingredient Combinations

GOLD

  • Zocalisa Fine Chocolates Pecan Caramel

SILVER

  • Tandem Chocolates Caramels
  • Delysia Chocolatier Banoffee pie chocolate truffle
  • The Chocolate Fetish African Queen
  • The Chocolate Fetish Dark Pistachio Frog

BRONZE

  • Hot Tempered Chocolates Browned Butter Salted Caramel
  • Sweet Jules Gifts Dark Chocolate Pecan Caramels
  • Dallas Caramel Company Mocha Caramel
  • The Oakland Chocolate Company Jamaican Jerk Caramels
  • Theo Chocolate Ghost Chili Caramels

HONORABLE MENTION

  • St. Croix Chocolate Company Emperor's Garden (yuzu caramel and jasmine tea)
  • The Secret Chocolatier Bananas Foster
  • Theo Chocolate Honey Saffron Caramel
  • Dallas Caramel Company Jalapeno Bacon Armadillo TxTurtle
  • echo chocolate Signature Sea-Salt Caramel
  • Wildflower Caramel Co. Smoked Jalapeno Caramel

Best Taste

GOLD

  • Zocalisa Fine Chocolates Pecan Caramel
  • The Chocolate Fetish Dark Pistachio Frog

SILVER

  • Delysia Chocolatier Banoffee pie chocolate truffle
  • Sweet Jules Gifts Dark Chocolate Pecan Caramels
  • Dallas Caramel Company Mocha Caramel
  • Theo Chocolate Ghost Chili Caramels
  • St. Croix Chocolate Company Emperor's Garden (yuzu caramel and jasmine tea)

BRONZE

  • Tandem Chocolates Caramels
  • The Chocolate Fetish African Queen

HONORABLE MENTION

  • The Oakland Chocolate Company Jamaican Jerk Caramels
  • Theo Chocolate Honey Saffron Caramel
  • echo chocolate Signature Sea-Salt Caramel
  • Wildflower Caramel Co. Smoked Jalapeno Caramel
  • Mouth Party Caramel Maple Caramels
  • The Oakland Chocolate Company Strawberry Cardamom Caramels

Best Packaging (External)

GOLD

  • Sweet Jules Gifts Dark Chocolate Pecan Caramels

SILVER

  • echo chocolate Signature Sea-Salt Caramel

BRONZE

  • Banyan Tree Chocolate Hibiscus Liquid Caramel
  • Sweet Jules Gifts Scotch Ale and Pretzel Caramels

HONORABLE MENTION

  • St. Croix Chocolate Company Emperor's Garden (yuzu caramel and jasmine tea)

Most Unique

GOLD

  • Banyan Tree Chocolate Hibiscus Liquid Caramel

SILVER

  • Delysia Chocolatier Banoffee pie chocolate truffle

BRONZE

  • Wildflower Caramel Co. Smoked Jalapeno Caramel
  • Dallas Caramel Company Jalapeno Bacon Armadillo TxTurtle

HONORABLE MENTION

  • Sweet Jules Gifts Dark Chocolate Pecan Caramels
  • St. Croix Chocolate Company Emperor's Garden (yuzu caramel and jasmine tea)
  • Tandem Chocolates Caramels
  • The Oakland Chocolate Company Jamaican Jerk Caramels
  • Hot Tempered Chocolates Browned Butter Salted Caramel
  • Theo Chocolate Ghost Chili Caramels
  • Mouth Party Caramel Maple Caramels

Top Caramels


GOLD

  • Sweet Jules Gifts Dark Chocolate Pecan Caramels
  • St. Croix Chocolate Company Emperor's Garden (yuzu caramel and jasmine tea)
  • Tandem Chocolates Caramels
  • Theo Chocolate Ghost Chili Caramels
  • Dallas Caramel Company Mocha Caramel

SILVER

  • The Chocolate Fetish Dark Pistachio Frog
  • The Chocolate Fetish African Queen

BRONZE

  • Delysia Chocolatier Banoffee pie chocolate truffle
  • Wildflower Caramel Co. Smoked Jalapeno Caramel
  • The Oakland Chocolate Company Jamaican Jerk Caramels
  • Mouth Party Caramel Maple Caramels
  • Zocalisa Fine Chocolates Pecan Caramel
  • Vande Walle's Candies Milk Sea Salt Caramel
  • echo chocolate Signature Sea-Salt Caramel
  • Coco Gusto Caramel Bar
  • Vande Walle's Candies Wrapped Vanilla Caramel
  • Delysia Chocolatier Butterscotch mocha chocolate truffle

STAR RATINGS

4.5 STARS

  • Sweet Jules Gifts Dark Chocolate Pecan Caramel

4 STARS

  • The Chocolate Fetish Dark Pistachio Frog
  • Tandem Chocolates Caramels
  • The Chocolate Fetish African Queen
  • Dallas Caramel Company Mocha Caramel
  • echo chocolate Signature Sea-Salt Caramel
  • Theo Chocolate Ghost Chili Caramels
  • Vande Walle's Candies Milk Sea Salt Caramel

3.5 STARS

  • Hot Tempered Chocolates Browned Butter Salted Caramel
  • St. Croix Chocolate Company Classic Sea Salt Caramel
  • St. Croix Chocolate Company Emperor's Garden (yuzu caramel and jasmine tea)
  • Zocalisa Fine Chocolates Pecan Caramel
  • Banyan Tree Chocolate Hibiscus Liquid Caramel
  • Wildflower Caramel Co. Smoked Jalapeno Caramel

3 STARS

  • The Oakland Chocolate Company Strawberry Cardamom Caramels
  • Vande Walle's Candies Wrapped Vanilla Caramel
  • Delysia Chocolatier Banoffee pie chocolate truffle
  • Mouth Party Caramel Maple Caramels
  • Theo Chocolate Honey Saffron Caramel
  • Delysia Chocolatier Butterscotch mocha chocolate truffle
  • The Oakland Chocolate Company Jamaican Jerk Caramels
  • The Secret Chocolatier Bananas Foster
  • Dallas Caramel Company Jalapeno Bacon Armadillo TxTurtle
  • Delysia Chocolatier Salty dog chocolate truffle
  • Sweet Jules Gifts Scotch Ale and Pretzel Caramels
  • Coco Gusto Caramel Bar

JUDGES' FAVORITES

  • Dallas Caramel Company's Mocha Caramel
  • Tandem
  • The Delysia Banoffee Pie Chocolate Truffle won my heart. The rich banana flavor was mouth watering and delicious. It brought back memories of some pies I had when I was a child.
  • St. Croix Emperor's Garden
  • Theo Ghost Chile
  • Sweet Jules Dark Chocolate Pecan Caramel
  • AFRICAN QUEEN

JUDGES' COMMENTS

  • The Oakland Chocolate Company's Jamaican Jerk Caramel not only had a great caramel texture, but its combination of jerk spices (allspice, thyme and hot pepper) was surprising. It had a savoriness that lingered. I thought it was unique and quite enjoyable. Sweet Jules Dark Chocolate Pecan Caramel was wonderful. It was not overly sweet, and the pecan really came through -- freshly nutty, and even meaty. Loved it. Delysia Chocolatier's Banoffee Pie Chocolate Truffle had a wonderfully creamy banana filling. Delicious!
  • Vande Walle's Vanilla Caramel was smooth, classic, traditional. Yum! Wildflower Smoked Jalapeno..rich caramel with a Kick; Dallas Mocha Caramel: good coffee combo; Delysia Banoffee Pie..multi-layered
  • I was worried about the heat level of the Theo Ghost Pepper, but it was quite delicious. the level of heat was just right for me. The Vande Walle Wrapped Vanilla caramel was both attractively striped and a delightful pleasure for the palate. The Zocaliza Pecan Caramel was rich in flavor with a good crunch
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