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Chocolate Awards & Industry Recognition

At Gem Chocolates, the best accolades are hearing and seeing how our customers enjoy our chocolates, a return visit from a customer, and receiving a customer referral. We pride ourselves in making the best chocolates we can...to tantalize your tastebuds.

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We strive to constantly improve. We challenge ourselves by entering competitions for critical feedback from our peers, food journalists and critics. Having said this, we are taking a holiday from competitions after entering them annually.

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In mid-2018 we decided to stop ("retire") entering competitions, feeling that we have already garnered enough recognition to validate our chocolate-making skills, designs and flavours. We are very pleased some of our past results and awards with you:

The International Chocolate Salon, 2018 Top Caramel Awards:

  • Bronze, Most Unique - Lemon Poppyseed

  • Bronze, Best Ingredient Combinations - Brown Butter & Thyme

Canadian National Competition, 2017:

  • Silver, Caramels - Toasted Black Sesame Seed

  • Silver, Milk Ganaches - Lakrids Hallon (Licorice & Raspberry)

  • Bronze, Milk Ganaches - Fika

Canadian National Competition, 2017:

  • Silver, Caramels - Toasted Black Sesame Seed

  • Silver, Milk Ganaches - Lakrids Hallon (Licorice & Raspberry)

  • Bronze, Milk Ganaches - Fika

The Best Chocolatiers and Confectioners in America 2017:

  • Four Star Awards 

Canadian National Chocolate Competition, 2016

  • Silver, Caramels - Salted Rosemary Caramel

The International Chocolate Salon, 2016 Caramel Awards

  • Silver - Rosie (Best Ingredient Combinations)

  • Silver - Beat-It! (Best Exterior Design)

  • Silver - Rosie (Best Taste)

  • Bronze - Beat-It! (Best Taste)

  • Silver - Rosie (Most Unique)

  • Bronze - Beat-It! (Most Unique)

  • Silver - Best Packaging

  • Bronze - Rosie (Best Overall Chocolate Artistry)

​2015 International Chocolate Awards (Canada):

  • Gold: Lime Chili Caramel 

  • Silver: Gold Rush 

  • Bronze: Cézanne Pear 

Top Luxury Caramel Awards 2015

  • Silver - Best Packaging 

  • Bronze - Most Unique (JB Lime & Chili) 

  • Bronze - Best Taste (JB Lime & Chili) 

  • Bronze - Best Ingredient Combinations (JB Lime & Chili) 

  • Honorable Mention - Best Overall Chocolate Artistry

Top Luxury Caramel Awards 2014

  • Gold – Best Exterior Design (Pepper Spray) 

  • Gold - Best Packaging 

  • Bronze - Most Unique (Pepper Spray) 

  • Honorable Mention - Most Unique (Ginger Soft Chew)

  • Honorable Mention - Best Overall Chocolate Artistry

Top Chocolate Bar Awards 2013

  • Gold – Best Dark Chocolate Bar 

  • Gold – Best Taste 

  • Gold – Best Texture 

  • Silver – Top Chocolate Bar 

Top Luxury Caramel Awards 2012

  • Gold – Best Packaging 

  • Bronze – Best Taste 

  • Bronze – Best Texture 

International Chocolate Awards (Canada):

Canadian National Competition 2012

  • Silver – Filled Chocolates Flavoured Dark Ganaches & Truffles 

The Best Chocolatiers and Confectioners in America 2018:

  • Four Star Award

The International Chocolate Salon, 2017 Top Caramel Awards: 

  • Gold, Most Unique - Toasted Black Sesame Seed

  • Gold, Top Caramel - Toasted Black Sesame Seed

  • Silver, Best Ingredient Combination - Toasted Black Sesame Seed

  • Silver, Best Taste - Toasted Black Sesame Seed

  • Bronze, Top Caramel - Rosemary-Olive Oil With Sea Salt

  • Bronze, Most Unique - Rosemary-Olive Oil With Sea Salt

  • Bronze, Best Caramel Exterior Design - Rosemary-Olive Oil With Sea Salt

The International Chocolate Salon, 2017 Top Caramel Awards: 

  • Gold, Most Unique - Toasted Black Sesame Seed

  • Gold, Top Caramel - Toasted Black Sesame Seed

  • Silver, Best Ingredient Combination - Toasted Black Sesame Seed

  • Silver, Best Taste - Toasted Black Sesame Seed

  • Bronze, Top Caramel - Rosemary-Olive Oil With Sea Salt

  • Bronze, Most Unique - Rosemary-Olive Oil With Sea Salt

  • Bronze, Best Caramel Exterior Design - Rosemary-Olive Oil With Sea Salt

The Best Chocolatiers and Confectioners in America 2016:

  • Four Star Awards 

​2015 International Chocolate Awards (Canada):

  • Gold: Lime Chili Caramel 

  • Silver: Gold Rush 

  • Bronze: Cézanne Pear 

Top Chocolate Bar Awards 2015

  • Silver – Best Mixed Chocolate Bar (Lost & Found with crushed cocoa beans) 

  • Silver – Best Texture 

  • Silver – Best Graphic Design 

  • Bronze – Top Chocolate Bar 

  • Bronze - Best Taste

The Best Chocolatiers and Confectioners in America 2014

  • Four Star Awards 

Top Truffle Artistry Awards 2013

  • Bronze – Best Ingredient Combinations 

  • Bronze – Best Texture (Sakura) 

  • Bronze – Best Texture (Matcha) 

  • Bronze – Best Use of Color 

The Best Chocolatiers and Confectioners in America 2013

  • Four Star Awards 

The Chicago Luxury Chocolate Salon 2011

  • Gold – Best Presentation & Packaging 

  • Silver – Best Milk Chocolate 

  • Silver – Most Artistic Designs 

  • Silver – Best Gift Set 

  • Silver – Most Luxurious Chocolate Experience 

  • Silver – Best Organic or Fair Trade Products 

  • Bronze – Best in Salon 

  • Bronze – Best Truffle 

  • Bronze – Most Delicious Ingredient Combinations 

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