Pralines, Gianduiotto, and spreadable creams: Italy dominates the world's most important chocolate competition

The biggest international competition for artisanal chocolate has crowned its winners: in the Italian/Mediterranean category, chocolatiers from the Peninsula have swept the awards. The award ceremony of the International Chocolate Awards, chaired by expert taster Monica Meschini, took place on Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Florence and saw several great artisans from North to South take turns to collect their well-deserved prizes. There were over 20 categories in the competition, which includes filled pralines, spreadable creams, chocolate with nuts, bars, and all the specialties that make up the world of chocolate.

The Best Italian Chocolates at the International Chocolate Awards 2024

From Pietro Macellaro to Monia Achille, from Guido Castagna to Gardini: here are all the winners of the chocolate competition.

White Chocolate with Pieces or Suspensions

Gold: Caon Chocolate – PepperHome (90.3)

Dark Chocolate Bars with Infusion or Flavoring

Bronze: Eddy Silva (Italy) – Ma Maroc (85.7)

Dark Chocolate Ganaches and Truffles

Gold: Pietro Macellaro Agricultural Pastry Cilentana (Italy) – Piura Buffalo Cream (90.0)

Dark Chocolate Ganaches or Flavored Truffles

Gold: Monia Achille (Italy) – Nocturne (91.8)
+ Special: Alcohol

Silver: Gardini (Italy) – Alkermes Praline (88.1)

+ Special: Local Ingredients

Silver: Gardini (Italy) – Fossa Treasures (87.4)

+ Special: Local Ingredients

Bronze: Riccardo Depetris / Depetris…i Ciculaté (Italy) – Mucillago (86.6)

Milk Chocolate Ganaches and Truffles

Silver: Pietro Macellaro Agricultural Pastry Cilentana (Italy) – Puro Latte (88.1)

Flavored Milk Chocolate Ganaches and Truffles

Gold: Riccardo Depetris / Depetris…i Ciculaté (Italy) – Persi Pien (90.8)

+ Special: Local Ingredients

Ganaches and Truffles with Chocolate Coverings or Fillings

Gold: Stefania Massera – Gino Massera Pastry (Italy) – Darkelvo (92.0)

+ Special: Local Ingredients

Silver: Eddy Silva (Italy) – Mozzarella Bubble (89.4)

+ Special: Local Ingredients

Silver: Aurica Timis (Italy) – Consolata Truffle (89.2)

+ Special: Reinterpretation

Silver: Stefania Massera – Gino Massera Pastry (Italy) – Al Malinteisa (88.2)

+ Special: Local Ingredients

Silver: Stefania Massera – Gino Massera Pastry (Italy) – Torta dla Nòna (87.9)

+ Special: Reinterpretation

Bronze: Riccardo Depetris / Depetris…i Ciculaté (Italy) – L’alternative – Pataxte (86.4) Nut-based pralines with dark chocolate

Gold: Guido Castagna (Italy) – Giuinott (94.3) (**)

+ Special: Local Ingredients

+ Special: Gianduiotto

Silver: Guido Castagna (Italy) – Cremino Mint Licorice (93.4) (**)

+ Special: Local Ingredients

Silver: Guido Castagna (Italy) – Cremino Calendula Cinnamon (91.8) (**)

+ Special: Local Ingredients

Silver: Guido Castagna (Italy) – Cremino Malva Cardamom (90.9) (**)

+ Special: Local Ingredients

Bronze: Marco Vacchieri Pastry – Dolci Intuizioni (Italy) – Caramelized Hazelnut (86.8)

Marzipan Covered in Dark Chocolate

Gold: Pietro Macellaro Agricultural Pastry Cilentana (Italy) – Piura Violetta (93.6)

+ Special: Local Ingredients

Silver: Pietro Macellaro Agricultural Pastry Cilentana (Italy) – Wild Mountain Oregano and Lemon (92.5)

+ Special: Local Ingredients

Pralines of Nuts with Milk Chocolate

Silver: Varvaro (Italy) – Pistachio and Hazelnut Cremino (87.6)

Bronze: Varvaro (Italy) – Three-Layer Cremino (86.1)

Milk Chocolate Dragees Enriched with Nuts

Silver: Bellantoni Chocolate (Italy) – Pink Pepper and Milk Chocolate Dragees (88.2)

Pralines of Nuts with White Chocolate

Gold: Bellantoni Chocolate (Italy) – Pine Nut and Chamomile Cremino (91.9)

+ Special: Local Ingredients

+ Special: Flavored Cremino

Silver: Gardini (Italy) – Pistachio Cremino (89.4)

White Chocolate Dragees Enriched with Nuts

Gold: Bellantoni Chocolate (Italy) – Pine Nut and Chamomile Dragees (94.2)

+ Special: Local Ingredients

Silver: Bellantoni Chocolate (Italy) – Green Pepper and White Chocolate Dragees (91.0)

Silver: Bellantoni Chocolate (Italy) – Pine Nut and Rose Dragees (90.4)

Silver: Bellantoni Chocolate (Italy) – Yogurt and Raspberry Dragees (89.7)

Nut Pralines with Combinations of Chocolates

Gold: Gardini (Italy) – Licorice Cremino (93.0)

Silver: Stefania Massera – Gino Massera Pastry (Italy) – Mountainelvo (91.0)

+ Special: Local Ingredients

Silver: Gardini (Italy) – Amarena Cremino (90.7)

Silver: Stefania Massera – Gino Massera Pastry (Italy) – Elvina Agrumata (90.5)

+ Special: Local Ingredients

Silver: Gardini (Italy) – Romagna Walnut Cremino (88.7)

+ Special: Local Ingredients

Silver: Riccardo Depetris / Depetris…i Ciculaté (Italy) – Langhe Passion (87.8) (**)

+ Special: Local Ingredients

Silver: Stefania Massera – Gino Massera Pastry (Italy) – Nocelvo (87.7)

+ Special: Local Ingredients

Milk Chocolate Enriched with Caramel

Gold: Pietro Macellaro Agricultural Pastry Cilentana (Italy) – Figue (92.3)

+ Special: Local Ingredients

+ Special: Caramel

White Chocolate Enriched with Fruit Paste, Jelly/Gelée

Bronze: Giuseppe Manilia (Italy) – Exotic (85.9)

Dark Chocolate Enriched with Whole Fruit

Gold: Falicetto Pure Chocolate Piacenza (Italy) – Sgranfgnòn – Boero (94.3)

+ Special: Local Ingredients

+ Special: Boero

Bronze: Pietro Macellaro Agricultural Pastry Cilentana (Italy) – Cherry with Cognac (86.0)

White Chocolate Enriched with Whole Fruit

Gold: Bellantoni Chocolate (Italy) – Licorice and Candied Orange Dragees (90.4)

Bronze: Bellantoni Chocolate (Italy) – Lemon and Cinnamon Dragees (86.7)

Dark Chocolate Spreadables

Gold: Guido Castagna (Italy) – +55 – Hazelnut Cream (94.1) (**)

+ Special: Local Ingredients

Milk Chocolate Spreadables

Silver: Monia Achille (Italy) – ME (88.7)

+ Special: Local Ingredients

Silver: Marco Vacchieri Pastry – Dolci Intuizioni (Italy) – Gianduia Cream (88.0)

+ Special: Local Ingredients

White Chocolate Spreadables

Gold: Bellantoni Chocolate (Italy) – Pine Nut and Chamomile Spreadable Cream (90.1)

+ Special: Local Ingredients