Our Guide To The Best European Chocolate 2024
Hello Chocolate is honored to be a representative of some of the most exceptional craft chocolate brands in Europe. Our curated selection showcases the absolute best performers in the 2024 International Chocolate Awards, ranked from the highest to the lowest scores. This ranking not only highlights exceptional craftsmanship but also demonstrates the incredible diversity and quality of European chocolate making.
The Rise of Craft Chocolate in Europe
The European chocolate landscape has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years, with craft chocolate emerging as a vibrant and sophisticated culinary art form. The 2024 International Chocolate Awards showcase not just exceptional taste, but a deep commitment to ethical and sustainable chocolate production.
A Brief History of European Craft Chocolate
Craft chocolate in Europe represents a radical departure from industrial chocolate production. While Switzerland and Belgium have long been synonymous with chocolate excellence, the craft chocolate movement has democratized and diversified chocolate making. This renaissance began in the early 2000s, with small-batch chocolate makers challenging traditional production methods and focusing on bean origin, flavor complexity, and ethical sourcing.
Key Milestones in European Craft Chocolate:
- 2000s: First artisan chocolate makers emerge in countries like France, Italy, and the UK
- 2010s: Emergence of bean-to-bar movement
- 2020s: Increased focus on origin traceability and sustainable farming practices
2024 International Chocolate Awards: Commitment to Sustainability
The competition has established groundbreaking rules that reflect the craft chocolate community's values:
Origin Traceability Principles
- Chocolate makers must transparently indicate cacao origins
- Limited to three different sources per origin
- Emphasis on supporting economically sustainable cacao farming
- Ensuring fair compensation for farmers
Judging Criteria
The Awards focus on multiple categories:
- Filled chocolates
- Enrobed fruits and nuts
- Chocolate spreads
- Flavored bars
- Bean-to-bar products
Judging Process
- Anonymous judging
- Experts from local food journalism and international chocolate communities
- Rigorous evaluation of flavor, texture, and craft techniques
The Significance of the 2024 Competition
The competition, held in Bucharest, Romania, represents more than a culinary contest. It's a global platform highlighting the intricate connections between chocolate makers, farmers, and consumers. By emphasizing origin traceability, the Awards promote:
- Economic sustainability for cacao farmers
- Environmental consciousness
- Preservation of unique regional cacao varieties
- Elevation of chocolate as an artisanal craft
Global Impact
Winners from this European competition will advance to the World Final in October-November 2024, representing the pinnacle of global craft chocolate innovation.
Future of European Craft Chocolate
The 2024 International Chocolate Awards illuminate several promising trends:
- Increased transparency in sourcing
- Growing consumer interest in artisanal chocolate
- Collaboration between chocolate makers and cacao farmers
- Emphasis on unique flavor profiles
- Sustainable and ethical production methods
Emerging Chocolate Regions
While traditional chocolate-producing countries like Belgium and Switzerland remain strong, new European craft chocolate hubs are emerging in:
- United Kingdom
- France
- Italy
- Nordic countries
The 2024 International Chocolate Awards are more than a competition—they're a testament to chocolate's evolution from a mass-produced commodity to a nuanced, respected culinary art form. By celebrating craft, origin, and sustainability, these awards are reshaping how we understand and appreciate chocolate.
Top European Chocolate 2024
80 and above indicates fine chocolate quality and scores above 90 suggest extraordinary quality and craft.
- Vigdis Rosenkilde (Norway) - Dark Chocolate - Piura with Nibs 70% (Score 91.2)
- Duffy's (UK) - Dark Chocolate - Nicaragua Juno 70% (Score 90.4)
- Meybol Cacao (Germany) - Dark Chocolate - Inti 70% (Score 90.1)
- Friis-Holm - Chocolate Bonbons - Stauning Whisky (Score 90.0)
- Friis-Holm (Denmark) - Chocolate Bonbons - Harslev Malt Caramel (Score 89.7)
- Friis-Holm (Denmark) - Dark Chocolate - Chuno Double Turned 70% (Score 89.4)
- Friis-Holm (Denmark) - Milk Chocolate - O'Payo 50% (Score 89.4)
- Vigdis Rosenkilde (Normay) - Dark Chocolate - Quellouno 70% (Score 89.2)
- Friis-Holm (Denmark) - Milk Chocolate - O'Payo Liquorice 50% (Score 89.2)
- Friis-Holm (Denmark) - Dark Chocolate - Barba 70% (Score 89.1)
- Friis-Holm (Denmark) - Dark Chocolate - Nicaliso 70% (Score 89.1)
- Friis-Holm (Denmark) - Dark Chocolate - Rugoso 70% (Score 89.1)
- Friis-Holm (Denmark) - Milk Chocolate - Dark Milk 55% (Score 89.1)
- Friis-Holm (Denmark) - Chocolate Bonbons - Hansens Ice Cream (Score 89.0)
- Vigdis Rosenkilde (Norway) - Dark Chocolate - Echarate 70% (Score 88.7)
- Friis-Holm (Denmark) - Dark Chocolate - Chuno Tripple Turned 70% (Score 88.5)
- Meybol Cacao (Germany) - Dark Chocolate - Solo Kakao 90% (Score 88.4)
- Meybol Cacao (Germany) - Dark Chocolate - Vraem 72% (Score 88.2)
- Friis-Holm (Denmark) - Dark Chocolate - La Dalia 70% (Score 88.2)
- Meybol Cacao (Germany) - Dark Chocolate - Solo Kakao 100% (Score 87.9)
- Meybol Cacao (Germany) - Dark Chocolate - Collection N3 (Score 87.6)
- Duffy's (UK) - Milk Chocolate - Nicaragua, Oh Juno 45% (Score 87.6)
- Meybol Cacao (Germany) - Dark Chocolate - Collection N7 (Score 87.5)
- Friis-Holm (Denmark) - Dark Chocolate - O'Payo 68% (Score 87.5)
- Friis-Holm (Denmark) - Dark Chocolate - La Dalia 85% (Score 87.1)
- Friis-Holm (Denmark) - Dark Chocolate - Nicaliso Green Cinnamon 70% (Score 87.0)
- Friis-Holm (Denmark) - Dark Chocolate - Madagascar Slow Dried 64% (Score 86.8)
- Meybol Cacao (Germany) - Dark Chocolate - Piura 72% (Score 86.7)
- Friis-Holm (Denmark) - Milk Chocolate - O'Payo Sansho Pepper 50% (Score 86.3)
- Friis-Holm (Denmark) - Dark Chocolate - Medagla Soy 70% (Score 86.2)
- Friis-Holm (Denmark) - Dark Chocolate - La Dalia 60% With Nibs (Score 85.9)
Shop The Best European Chocolate 2024
1. Vigdis Rosenkilde (Norway)
Vigdis Rosenkilde is the founder and CEO of a chocolate company. She spends about three months each year in Peru, working closely with her chocolate production. She's involved in every step of making chocolate, from the cacao farms to the factory. Vigdis also teaches chocolate classes. She loves sharing information about how chocolate is made and wants people to understand more about where chocolate comes from. Most people enjoy eating chocolate, but they don't know much about how it's produced. She finds it rewarding to teach people about the whole process of making chocolate and the important issues in the chocolate industry. Her classes focus on chocolate tasting and helping people learn about the journey of chocolate from the farm to the final product. She believes it's important to show people the work and care that goes into making each chocolate bar.
2. Duffy's Chocolate (United Kingdom)
Duffy Sheardown, a former Formula One engineer, started a unique chocolate business in Linkonshire, England. In 2008, after hearing a radio broadcast about the lack of bean-to-bar chocolate makers in England, he decided to try chocolate making himself. During a holiday in Guatemala, he bought cocoa beans and spent 18 months learning how to make chocolate. In 2010, he opened a small factory and launched Duffy's Chocolate, becoming the UK's first small artisan chocolate maker. Sheardown is very careful about making chocolate. He sources 90% of his cocoa beans directly from farmers, focusing on the best beans. His engineering background helps him fine-tune the chocolate-making process. It takes four days to make just 30kg of chocolate, and he ages each batch for up to three months. The company pays farmers well above fair-trade prices, helping small farmers and supporting the cultivation of rare cocoa bean types. This approach creates unique, high-quality chocolate while supporting ethical farming practices. Duffy's Chocolate is mainly sold online and has won many awards. By buying his chocolate, customers support a small British business and sustainable farming in countries like Ecuador and Honduras.From a race car engineer to a chocolate maker, Duffy Sheardown turned his passion into a successful, ethical business that produces exceptional chocolate.
3. Friis-Holm Chocolate (Denmark)
Mikkel Friis-Holm, a Danish chef, started Friis-Holm Chocolate with a big dream: to create the world's best chocolate while also doing good for the world. His chocolate journey began in the late 1990s while working in San Francisco. In 2007, he joined a project in Nicaragua supported by the Danish government to help local farmers improve their cacao production. He built strong relationships with these farmers and still uses their beans today. From 2007 to 2013, Mikkel learned chocolate making, initially working with a French chocolate factory. In 2014, he started his own Danish chocolate company with help from small investors. By 2015, he was making chocolate entirely in Denmark. In 2023, the family behind Hansen Ice Cream became part-owners of the company. Throughout these changes, Mikkel has stayed true to his main goal: making chocolate that is both the best in the world and the best for the world. Friis-Holm Chocolate is more than just a business. It's a mission to create high-quality chocolate while supporting and improving the lives of cacao farmers.
4. Meybol Cacao (Germany)
Meybol Estendorfer-Moran, the founder of Meybol Cacao, is a passionate chocolate maker from Peru who now lives in Hamburg, Germany. Her love for cocoa and commitment to helping the environment drive her business. Growing up in Peru, Meybol saw many problems facing small farmers, including child labor and environmental damage. These challenges inspired her to start her chocolate company. Her goal is to make a positive difference in the world, focusing on protecting the environment and supporting local communities. Meybol Cacao is more than just a chocolate business. It's a mission to create a better future. The company wants to show that it's possible to make delicious chocolate while also taking care of the planet and the people who grow cocoa. By choosing Meybol Cacao's chocolates, customers are supporting a vision of a world where businesses care about nature and people. Meybol believes in creating a sustainable future where humans and the environment can live in harmony.