Vegan pineapple lump takes out chocolate prize
Comedian Tom Sainsbury, who was on the judging panel, described it as "a pineapple lump made with love that you just can dive into and forget about your life".
Wonderland Chocolate's pineapple chews have been named the supreme winner in this year’s Vegan Chocolate Awards.
Judges said the winner, also named by the brand as 'Conrad the Contortionist', was “a perfectly delicious and moreish twist on a classic".
Chocolate makers entered 12 categories for the awards, hosted by the Vegan Society Aotearoa (VSA), on 28 April at Khu Khu Eatery in Ponsonby, Auckland.
Judges blind taste-tested chocolates for the Vegan Chocolate Awards on 28 April at Khu Khu Eatery in Ponsonby, Auckland.
Supplied / Vegan Society Aotearoa
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Six judges lent their palates to score the entrants: Koko Beans co-creator Floris Niu, Ao Cacao founder Thomas Wright, Cocoa Wilds founder Byron McLean, AUT food studies professor Tracy Berno, and Aaron Pucci who has 25 years' experience in the food and beverage manufacturing industry.
Comedian Tom Sainsbury also stepped in to help choose the best ones.
Vegan Chocolate Awards
"Pineapple lumps are great … they lack a little bit of love with the amount that has to be made," Sainsbury told Nights.
"I'd describe [Wonderland Chocolate's pineapple chews] as quite caramel-y and toffee, but definitely made with love … so it's like a pineapple lump made with love that you just can dive into and forget about your life.
"It was a unanimous decision, because we had so many chocolates to choose from, but everyone was like 'yes, of course, [this is the] winner'."
Sainsbury has previously pitched into judging panels for the vegan sausage awards, vegan cheese awards, and vegan pie awards.
The judging panel for the Vegan Chocolate Awards on 28 April at Khu Khu Eatery in Ponsonby, Auckland.
Supplied / Vegan Society Aotearoa
Full list of winners
Supreme Winner
Wonderland; Pineapple Chews – Conrad the Contortionist
Dark Chocolate bars – plain
Winner: Foundry Chocolate; Pinalum, Malekula Island, Vanuatu 70%
Runner up: Foundry Chocolate; Ea Kar, Dak Lak, Vietnam 70%
Chocolate Bars; flavoured
Winner: Schoc Chocolate; Lemongrass in a Dark Rich Chocolate
Runner up: Pretty Fancy Chocolate; Mini Infusion Dark Peppermint
Chocolate Bars; inclusions
Winner: Bennetto: Dark Salted Caramel
Runner up: Schoc Chocolate; Raspberry, Pear and Apple Dark Chocolate from Greytown
White or Milk Chocolate bars (plant milk only)
Winner: Pretty Fancy Chocolate; Mini Infusion Lime Coconut
Runner up: Mind Your Temper; Raspberry Dairy Free White Chocolate
Bon Bons and Truffles; flavoured
Winner: Mind Your Temper; Pistachio and Knafeh Croquant
Runner Up: Pretty Fancy Chocolate; Feijoa Crumble
Caramels
Winner: Wonderland; Pineapple Chews – Conrad the Contortionist
Runner up: Mind Your Temper; Vanilla Salted Caramel Dragee
Bean to Bar; single origin
Winner: Foundry Chocolate: Anamalai Estate, India 70%
Runner up: Raglan Chocolate; Malekula Island – Vanuatu
Bean to Bar; flavoured and inclusions
Winner: Valura; Calvados 70% Malekula Island, Vanuatu
Drinking Chocolate
Winner: Trade Aid; Organic Fair Trade Drinking Chocolate
Runner up: Foundry Chocolate; Pinalum, Malekula Island, Vanuatu 70% – Drinking Chocolate
Bark/Brittle Chocolate
Winner: Chocolate Oasis; Chocolate Bark Caramelized Almond & Cranberry
Dipped / Coated / Dragee
Winner: Mind Your Temper; Matcha Almond Dragees
Runner up: Schoc Chocolate; Pineapple Bites
