Bengaluru, India: The International Chocolate Awards has announced the winners of the inaugural Indian Craft Chocolate Competition 2026, marking a significant milestone for India’s rapidly evolving craft chocolate industry.
Organised by the International Chocolate Awards in collaboration with the Indian Cacao & Craft Chocolate Festival, the competition introduces an internationally recognised framework for evaluating and celebrating excellence in Indian craft chocolate. The prize winners will be honoured at a dedicated Awards Ceremony during the fifth edition of the Indian Cacao & Craft Chocolate Festival this December.
As India’s bean-to-bar and craft chocolate movement continues to gain momentum, the competition provides Indian makers with an opportunity to benchmark their products against rigorous international standards while recognising exceptional craftsmanship, innovation and quality.
Entries were submitted by craft chocolate makers from across the country and assessed through a comprehensive blind-tasting process by an international panel of certified chocolate tasters and sensory experts from the International Chocolate Awards. Chocolates were evaluated across multiple categories including dark, milk and white chocolate bars, bonbons, truffles, dragées and speciality products, with judges assessing flavour, texture, balance, craftsmanship, appearance and overall sensory experience.
This year’s competition recognised outstanding Indian chocolate makers including Savorworks Roasters, Paul and Mike, Manam Chocolate, Chitra’m Craft Chocolates, Anuttama, PASCATI, Baker’s Artisanal Recipes, and Subko Cacao, among others, with Gold, Silver and Bronze awarded across multiple categories.
Speaking about bringing the competition to India, Founders of the Indian Cacao & Craft Chocolate Festival said:
“Over the past four editions, the Indian Cacao & Craft Chocolate Festival has grown into a platform that celebrates every part of India’s chocolate ecosystem—from cacao growers and bean-to-bar makers to chocolatiers, chefs and consumers. Collaborating with International Chocolate Awards to bring the Indian Craft Chocolate Competition to India was a natural next step. It gives Indian makers access to an internationally respected judging framework while shining a spotlight on the exceptional quality and innovation emerging from our craft chocolate community.”
Commenting on the inaugural competition, Martin Christy, Founder of the International Chocolate Awards, said:
“The Indian Craft Chocolate Competition is about much more than recognising medal winners. It is about establishing a culture of excellence through rigorous sensory evaluation and constructive feedback. Competitions such as these help makers benchmark their products against internationally recognised standards, encourage continuous improvement and ultimately strengthen the industry’s reputation. We have been incredibly impressed by the quality, creativity and diversity of entries from India, and we believe the country has tremendous potential to become one of the world’s leading craft chocolate destinations.”
The Indian Craft Chocolate Competition is intended to become an annual initiative, supporting the continued development of India’s craft chocolate sector by recognising excellence, encouraging innovation and fostering greater appreciation for high-quality chocolate among consumers and the industry alike.
The winners of the inaugural competition will be celebrated at the Indian Cacao & Craft Chocolate Festival later this year, where chocolate makers, cacao growers, industry professionals and chocolate enthusiasts from across India will come together to celebrate the country’s growing craft chocolate movement.
About The International Chocolate Awards
The International Chocolate Awards were founded in 2012 and are run by IICCT with a group of independent international partners with years of experience tasting and evaluating chocolate and running fine chocolate-related events. Judges are drawn from sensory experts and members of the IICCT Alumni. Competitions are held in a growing number of countries and regions around the world in bean-to-bar and craft chocolatier rounds. Winners of the regional competitions are judged together at the World Final, which celebrates the best entries of the year.
About the Indian Cacao & Craft Chocolate Festival
The Indian Cacao & Craft Chocolate Festival is India’s leading celebration of craft chocolate and cacao, bringing together chocolate makers, cacao growers, industry experts, chefs and consumers to champion India’s growing craft chocolate movement. The festival serves as a platform for education, collaboration and appreciation of fine chocolate while supporting the continued growth of the country’s chocolate ecosystem.
The festival will take place this year on the 4th, 5th, and 6th of December at Sabha in Bangalore, and will see India’s best craft chocolate makers, artisans, chefs, industry experts and enthusiasts all under one roof.
