Entries in the New Zealand Chocolate Awards will be judged in categories — bean-to-bar; flavoured chocolate bar; filled chocolate — truffles and bonbons; bark or brittle/dipped fruit and nuts and an open class which includes drinking chocolate, kids’ choice and flavoured chocolate bars with added vanilla.
Organiser Kathie Bartley says gold medal winners from each category are considered for the title of category winner. The top-scoring gold medal chocolates from each category are then re-judged and the highest scoring product will be awarded the title of NZ Chocolate Awards 2022 Supreme Winner.
"Since we last judged in March 2020, before Covid changed our lives, the ranks of artisan chocolate makers and chocolatiers have swelled. Additionally, Kiwi foodies are keener than ever to support local businesses by buying NZ made."
The awards were initially annual, but it has now been decided to hold them every two years.
"Artisan chocolate is a relatively small industry in New Zealand and many of the producers are boutique [and] wouldn’t have the resources to support an annual awards."
Judging will be on October 1, led by international chocolate judge Elle Coco, and the award winners will be announced on October 25.
