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.
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.
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
The Best Chocolatiers and Confectioners in America 2018:
- Four Star Award
Canadian National Competition, 2017:
- Silver, Caramels - Toasted Black Sesame Seed
- Silver, Milk Ganaches - Lakrids Hallon (Licorice & Raspberry)
- Bronze, Milk Ganaches - Fika
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 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)
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
The International Chocolate Salon (USA):
The Best Chocolatiers and Confectioners in America 2015
- Three Star Awards
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
- 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
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
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
- Gold – Best Dark Chocolate Bar
- Gold – Best Taste
- Gold – Best Texture
- Silver – Top Chocolate Bar
The Best Chocolatiers and Confectioners in America 2013
- Four Star Awards
Top Luxury Caramel Awards 2012
- Gold – Best Packaging
- Bronze – Best Taste
- Bronze – Best Texture
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
International Chocolate Awards (Canada):
Canadian National Competition 2012
- Silver – Filled Chocolates Flavoured Dark Ganaches & Truffles