2026 Craft Chocolat Challenge LIVE Awards Show | #PSC 195
Episode 195 of #PodSaveChocolate is dedicated to presenting the winners of the 2026 Craft Chocolat Challenge. Joining me will be Dustin Cornett, the founder of the challenge, and Leila Carvajal of Cocoa Supply, the sponsor of the Innovation Awards.
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Episode 195 Overview
2026 marks Season 5 of the Craft Chocolat Challenge. In this episode, guests Dustin Cornett and Leila Carvajal will join me live to announce the winners of this year’s competition.
Unlike other competitions, the Craft Chocolat Challenge is very selective:
- There are only four judging categories: plain and flavored Dark, Milk, and White, plus Inclusions.
- There are only three winners in each category: Gold, Silver, and Bronze.
- There is one meta-category with three awards: Overall winners (the highest scores irrespective of category).
- There is one special award category: Innovation. (Each judge nominates up to three entries. The three that receive the most nominations are recognized. This award is unranked; all three awards are at the same level.)
- Entrants can enter no more than two bars for consideration for awards in a season. (They may enter others for feedback only.)
- Entrants can enter no more than one bar per category.
- Companies that win three awards, regardless of year, category, or award level, graduate to “Master” status and may no longer enter bars for awards judging in future seasons.
Challenge Sponsors and Supporters
2026 Challenge Stats
This year’s challenge featured:
- 63 total entries
- 26 entries in the Dark (plain and flavored) bar category
- 11 entries in the Milk (plain and flavored) bar category
- 6 entries in the White (plain and flavored) bar category
- 20 entries in the Inclusions (dark, milk, or white) category
- 9 members on the judging panel
- Entries from 17 US states (Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Minnesota, Montana, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah).
- Entries from 11 other countries (Belgium, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Ireland, Japan, Norway, and the Philippines).
Future Episodes
Interview with Scott Johnson
Atlas software demonstration and special member offer!
Episode Hashtags and Social Media Links
#cocoa #cacao #cacau
#chocolate #chocolat #craftchocolate
#PodSaveChoc #PSC
#LaVidaCocoa #TheChocolateLife
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Clay Gordon
Clay Gordon