Chocolatería Estukurú de la Fortuna from San Carlos, Gourmet Fields from Sabana Oeste, Nahua Cacao-Chocolate from Cariari de Heredia, Caribeans SA from Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and Chocolate Sibú from San Isidro de Heredia, are the winners of 24 out of 80 awards from the International Chocolate Awards Ceremony, which was held recently in Managua, Nicaragua. Chocolates and various bars were awarded.
The International Chocolate Awards try to support the production companies, chocolatiers, small companies and artisans who work with fine chocolate. By helping these markets grow and develop, they also support farmers who grow fine cocoa.
This competition is held annually. It started in Europe and is organized in 16 countries and several regions of the world. In November 2018 it will be celebrated in Guatemala City. There are 54 categories that were analyzed.
These awards for Costa Rican chocolate are a living example of having a product of the highest quality. Costa Rican cocoas, when they are well processed, result in an excellent flavor chocolate that can compete with any level of European and American chocolate,”
said Moisés Gómez Miranda, a consultant who recently participated in the Pitta Cacao meeting.
He was also emphatic in ensuring that during post-harvest it is very important to pay attention to the fermentation and the drying process, because that is where the good taste characteristics of chocolate begin to develop.
Likewise, he recognized that, to analyze the quality of a chocolate, it must take into account the taste, the texture of the product and the physical aspect or originality. You are looking for a chocolate that melts slowly in your mouth, that does not have a sandy consistency, because it cuts a bit the taste and tasting experience. It must be smelled to awaken the sense of taste.