(SPOT.ph) The Filipino chocolate industry’s made waves in the past few years, and this is once again cemented with major wins at this year’s International Chocolate Awards. Local players Auro Chocolate, Theo and Philo, and Malagos Chocolate competed against other fine chocolate makers worldwide, bagging awards that would make any Filipino proud.
The three brands first battled it out in the competition’s regional Asia-Pacific leg before moving on to the much bigger World Final championships judged from October 7 to 12 in Florence, Italy. Relative newcomer Auro Chocolate—known for their bean-to-bar chocolate made with sustainably sourced cacao from Davao—took home a total of nine awards, five from the Asia Pacific leg, and four from the international round. Among their winning confections are their 70% Dark Tupi Origin Bar, awarded Silver, and their new Moringa White Chocolate (yep—that’s malunggay) with Pinipig Bar, awarded Bronze, both in the World Edition.
Single-origin chocolate purveyor-slash-social enterprise Theo and Philo also took home a Bronze award for their 65% Dark Chocolate with Black Sesame and Nut Bars in the Asia-Pacific round, as well as a Silver award for their Milk Chocolate Adobo Bar in the world championships. Last but not least is “tree-to-bar” chocolate makers Malagos Chocolate, whose champion chocolates are their Salted Caramel Truffle (Silver) and their Malagos 62% Dark Chocolate bar (Gold) in the Asia-Pacific round.
The International Chocolate Awards was founded in 2012 and is run by a group of independent international partners from the U.S., U.K., and Italy. Both Theo and Philo and Malagos Chocolate also brought home awards during the esteemed competition’s run last year. Meanwhile, Auro Chocolate’s recent success also extends to their cacao farmers, as cacao beans produced by Auro Chocolate farming partner Jose Saguban also placed as one of the Top 20 Best Cacao Beans in the World during the recently held Salon du Chocolat in Paris.
