The 2025 Craft Chocolat Challenge Awards | #PodSaveChocolate Ep 115
Episode 115 of #PodSaveChocolate is dedicated to recognizing the winners, sponsors, judges, and organizers of the 2025 Craft Chocolat Challenge.
When and Where to Watch
Links below to watch LIVE and to view the archived episode.
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Episode 115 Overview
Judging for the 2025 Craft Chocolat Challenge (season 4) ended in early April, and the final results have finally been tabulated. In this episode of PodSaveChocolate the awards will be announced.
In this episode I will be joined by Dustin Cornett, the organizer of the challenge, and special guests.
TL;DR About the CCC
Unlike most other awards programs, both the number of categories AND the number of awards per category are limited. In addition, the primary focus of the awards is to provide feedback to entrants – and there are no entry fees. Finally, when an entrant wins a certain number of awards (any category, any level) they graduate to Master status and can no longer enter into the awards.
Categories
- Plain and Flavored Dark Chocolate Bars
- Plain and Flavored Milk Chocolate Bars
- Plain and Flavored White Chocolate Bars
- Bars with Inclusions
- Overall Winners (highest scores in the above four categories)
- Innovation
Award Levels
- Gold
- Silver
- Bronze
- Awards in the Innovation category are unranked.
Top Line Stats
- Entries from more than a dozen countries were judged
- There were 57 total entries
- 25 Entries in the Plain and Flavored Dark bars category
- 12 Entries in the Plain and Flavored Mik bars category
- 8 Entries in the Plain and Flavored White bars category
- 12 Entries in the Inclusions bars category
- All entries are considered for an Innovation award
- There were 9 judges
- No partridges or pear trees were harmed in the judging
And the Awards Go To ...
Inclusions
Plain and Flavored White Chocolate
Plain and Flavored Milk Chocolate
Plain and Flavored Dark Chocolate
Overall Winners
Innovation (sponsored by Cocoa Supply)
[L] Carobeans (USA) Passionfruit, Orange, Guava (POG); [C] Chokaico (USA) Negroni; [R] Diego’s Chocolate (Guatemala) Cardamom
On this page is a list of new (debut) entrants in each season of the CCC. A company that entered in Season 1 is not listed in future seasons if they enter again.
Winner Media
Images
A Craft Chocolate
Blind Cat Chocolate
Burnt Fork Bend Chocolate
Chokaico
DownLow Chocolate
Resource Links
Visit the page for the 2025/Season 4 challenge.
Thanks to Cocoa Supply for sponsoring this year’s Innovation Award.
Giving Little Beans a Big Voice – thanks to Beanstalkr for providing the judging platform. The platform is open to all chocolate fans to rate bars.
Questions?
If you have questions or want to comment, you can do so during the episode or, if you are a ChocolateLife member, you can add them in the Comments below at any time.
As we head into what will most likely be an unusually difficult summer for specialty chocolate makers, I am making a special offer to existing and new members on an annual Team TCL Guru Membership.
Take advantage of this offer and save over 40% on the first ten hours of coaching/consulting fees!
Episode Hashtags and Socials
Instagram: CraftChocolatChallenge CocoaSupply Beanstalkr
#cocoa #cacao #cacau
#chocolate #chocolat #craftchocolate
#PodSaveChoc #PSC
#LaVidaCocoa #TheChocolateLife
Future Episodes
Interview and Tasting – Tania Molina, Villakuyaya Tree (Ecuador)
Interview and Tasting – Chocolate Tree, Scotland (Ali Gower)
This episode will be pre-recorded because of the time difference
Interview and Tasting – Warren Hsu, Fu Wan (Taiwan)
#PodSaveChocolate and #TheChocolateLifeLIVE Archives
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Clay Gordon
Clay Gordon
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