{"id":36646,"date":"2022-12-16T13:50:18","date_gmt":"2022-12-16T21:50:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chocolatebythebay.com\/magazine\/?p=36646"},"modified":"2024-11-30T15:43:00","modified_gmt":"2024-11-30T23:43:00","slug":"ooey-gooey-rich-chewy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chocolatebythebay.com\/magazine\/local-chocolate\/ourchocolatiers\/ooey-gooey-rich-chewy\/","title":{"rendered":"Ooey gooey rich & chewy"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2022 Top Luxury Caramel Awards<\/a> sponsored by TasteTV was all that with a wide range of caramel treatments, inclusions, and trappings. Of course, not all were top notch in my book, so I will only talk about entries I rated 3 or higher (on a scale of 5).<\/p>\n

SFBA forward<\/h2>\n

When locals compete, I like to mention them first. Support your local artisan chocolatiers and candy makers!<\/p>\n

CocoTutti<\/h3>\n

One of our recommended chocolatiers, CocoTutti<\/strong><\/a> \"3-5, submitted 2 entries and I loved them both.<\/p>\n

\"CocoTutti
CocoTutti\u2019s Blood Orange Caramel had an attractive sponged-on dark orange decoration<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The\u00a0Dark Chocolate Caramel with House Made Blood Orange Marmalade was a flavor combo that Elyce has made before \u2014 she makes the marmalade in addition to the caramel \u2014 but this time it was a big bite about 1-1\/2″ square instead of a truffle or one of her signature CocoQuintet bars.<\/p>\n

It was a good size for enjoying the firm chewy dark colored caramel. Little bits of orange peel added to the mouthfeel. The dark chocolate covering the piece smelled great and was the first flavor, followed by the mild orange marmalade.\u00a0Caramel was basically just the medium for the other flavors in this not too sweet treat.<\/p>\n

I liked the chocolate and marmalade flavor balance and how they both lingered. The other judges liked it too:\u00a0CocoTutti Chocolates Chocolate Blood Orange Caramel received Silver for Best Ingredient Combinations, Best Taste, and Top Caramels; Bronze for Most Unique; and an Honorable Mention for Best Caramel Exterior Design. It was rated 4.5 stars, the highest rating awarded in the competition.<\/p>\n

\"CocoTutti
CocoTutti Espresso Caramel with Roasted Hazelnuts<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I liked CocoTutti\u2019s other entry, the Espresso Caramel with Roasted Hazelnuts, even more.\u00a0Little enrobed squares with hazelnut pieces on top and lots of bits inside the caramel, it smelled like roasted hazelnuts and had an almost crumbly texture from all those nuts.<\/p>\n

It had an immediate espresso flavor that wasn\u2019t bitter, but ended a little bitter chocolate tasting. The caramel was more pronounced in this one than the blood orange entry, very buttery and not too sweet.\u00a0Bites of the caramel with hazelnut on top were more hazelnutty than other bites. This\u00a0delicious caramel also had a good aftertaste that incorporated all the flavors: hazelnut, espresso, chocolate, and butter.<\/p>\n

Another top rating from not just me: CocoTutti Chocolates\u2019 Cappuccino Espresso Hazelnut Caramel won Gold for Best Ingredient Combinations, Silver for Best Taste, and Bronze for Top Caramels. It also rated 4.5 stars.<\/p>\n

You can buy CocoTutti chocolates online<\/a>, locally in some stores, at special events, and at their kitchen. Check their website for details.<\/p>\n

\"Kokak
Excellent branding on Kokak Chocolates\u2019 box<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kokak Chocolates<\/h3>\n

SF\u2019s Kokak Chocolates<\/a><\/strong> submitted their Tropical Caramels Collection. It was boxed in a simple but\u00a0attractive package secured with shiny green cellophane tape. Inside were 3 tropical flavor varieties.<\/p>\n

The first thing I noticed with all 3 was their thick dark chocolate shells. I usually prefer a thinner shell, but thicker worked for these. For example, the Banana Caramel was a semi-liquid caramel, so a thicker shell prevented leaks. It also made for a flavor progression since the chocolate took a while to melt. First was mild banana that switched over to slightly bitter dark chocolate as it melted. I would be interested to see how the banana caramel would pair with a\u00a0milk chocolate shell for a lighter overall experience.<\/p>\n

\"Banana
Kokak\u2019s Tropical Caramels: Banana, Macadamia Praline, and Passion Fruit<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Macadamia Praline had\u00a02 layers inside the dark shell: praline on bottom and caramel on top. I loved the\u00a0crunchy praline and distinct macadamia flavor. This was a chewing instead of melting piece which worked in the favor of the thick shell because the chocolate flavor got incorporated in the experience sooner. But again I wondered if a milk chocolate shell would be better.<\/p>\n

The third flavor, Passion Fruit, was similar to the Banana Caramel with a mildly flavored semi-liquid caramel in dark chocolate. While I liked the combo, I would have liked a stronger passion fruit taste to balance the dark chocolate shell.<\/p>\n

Kokak Chocolates\u2019 Tropical Caramel Chocolate Truffle Collection did very well in the competition, winning Gold for Best Caramel Exterior Design; Silver for Best Ingredient Combinations, Most Unique, and Top Caramels; and Bronze for Best Taste and Best Packaging. It also got the highest star rating of 4.5.<\/p>\n

Buy Kokak Chocolates at their Castro district storefront, special events, and\u00a0online<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sonoma Chocolatiers<\/h3>\n

I have been seeing Sonoma Chocolatiers<\/a><\/strong> in TasteTV competitions a lot lately, and this time they submitted 3 drink-themed entries that I thought were all winners.<\/p>\n

\"Sonoma
Sonoma Chocolatiers\u2019 London Fog<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Their London Fog Caramel\/Truffle was a tall dome of dark chocolate decorated with light strokes of white and blue.\u00a0As with the rest of their entries, the shell was thin and well made. The interior seemed more like a smooth ganache, not a caramel, but I didn\u2019t get an ingredients list, so I will assume caramel was somehow incorporated in the piece.<\/p>\n

At any rate, it smelled like Earl Grey tea and tasted of good dark chocolate\u00a0with a sweet citrus flavor. It wasn\u2019t an\u00a0overwhelming Earl Grey flavor, instead it was a bright citrus which I enjoyed.<\/p>\n

It received a Bronze for Best Taste, and Honorable Mentions for Most Unique and Top Caramels. It rated 4 stars.<\/p>\n

\"Sonoma
Sonoma Chocolatiers\u2019 Tea Time<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Tea Time caramel was a fun piece: A dome splashed with white and gold swashes and placed on a cookie bottom.
\nIt had a dark caramel ganache inside the dark chocolate shell.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m assuming it was flavored with Tea Time black tea \u2014 it wasn\u2019t a floral or smoked or other distinctive tea flavor. It had a slightly\u00a0tannic mouthfeel but wasn\u2019t bitter. Combined with the crunchy cookie bottom, it was a satisfying experience.<\/p>\n

Sonoma Chocolatiers Tea Time Caramel\/Truffle won Bronze for Best Caramel Exterior Design and Most Unique, and rated 4 stars.<\/p>\n

\"Sonoma
Sonoma Chocolatiers\u2019 Hot Buttered Rum<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Their third entry, Hot Buttered Rum, was definitely a caramel.\u00a0The outside was one of Sonoma Chocolatiers\u2019 many distinctive molds, its swirls accented with green and gold strokes.<\/p>\n

The dark caramel inside was soft almost liquid with a pur\u00e9e consistency. It\u00a0tasted like apple butter but with a boozy burn.\u00a0Like all of their chocolates, the shell was a good, slightly bitter\u00a0dark chocolate.<\/p>\n

Sonoma Chocolatiers\u2019 Hot Buttered Rum Caramel received Silver for Best Taste and an Honorable Mention for Best Ingredient Combinations. It rated 4 stars.<\/p>\n

Sonoma Chocolatiers\u2019 chocolates are available at their store, online<\/a>, and at some retail locations, such as\u00a0Oliver\u2019s Market<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Brigadeiro Sprinkles<\/h3>\n

The last SFBA competitor, Brigadeiro Sprinkles<\/a><\/strong>, we first encountered at the 2021 caramel competition<\/a>. As their founder, chef & owner Zeila Schappelle told us at this year\u2019s International Chocolate Salon<\/a>, she tailors her Brazilian treats to her audience, which means a less sweet profile for us Americans than traditional brigadeiro recipes.<\/p>\n

\"Brigadeiro
Brigadeiro Sprinkles\u2019 Ruby Cacao Passion Fruit Brigadeiro was protected by a hard plastic cup and cover (removed)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

She is also always experimenting with new flavors. This time she submitted a Ruby Cacao Passion Fruit Brigadeiro, which made for a very pretty, creamy raspberry colored treat covered in similarly colored\u00a0crispearls.<\/p>\n

Zeila describes brigadeiros as a mix between a caramel and a truffle. I think it\u2019s kinda like a chocolate caramel made by caramelizing sugar and condensed milk then adding chocolate. But I\u2019m probably simplifying too much \u2014 like the Chilton\u2019s manual for my first car, a very used Chevy \u201963 Nova. Looking for instructions to replace the radiator hose, the first step read \u201cReplace radiator hose.\u201d<\/p>\n

I digress. Back to the brigadeiro. I liked the play between the\u00a0crunchy pearls and smooth texture inside, but it was too ruby cacao for me and not enough passion fruit. Also the condensed milk flavor was pretty pronounced, which I don\u2019t usually experience in Brigadeiro Sprinkles\u2019 brigadeiros. I like that Zeila is always experimenting so maybe a future iteration will fix this.<\/p>\n

Despite my quibbles, it did well in the competition, winning Gold for Most Unique and Silver for Best Packaging. It rated 3 stars.<\/p>\n

Brigadeiro Sprinkles has an online store<\/a> where you can buy pre-made collections or request specific flavors.<\/p>\n

Highlights<\/h2>\n

On to caramels from outside SFBA that I thought were top notch and worth seeking out. My favs were split between veteran competitors and newbies.<\/p>\n

\"Kwoka
Kwoka Caramel logo on box<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kwoka Caramel<\/h3>\n

Kwoka Caramel<\/strong><\/a>, Bergen, NJ, is one of the veteran TasteTV competitors. I always get excited when I see their distinctive packaging. They did not disappoint.<\/p>\n

Inside the box was a big square of caramel with a layer of dark chocolate on top sprinkled with diced orange peel pieces. It was a firm chewy smooth caramel and the\u00a0candied orange peel was soft.<\/p>\n

It had a\u00a0light, slightly bitter orange flavor that was a little floral. It wasn\u2019t very chocolatey but it was a good caramel and not too sweet. The orange was the dominant flavor and lingered.<\/p>\n

\"Kwoka
Kwoka\u2019s Dark Chocolate Orange Caramel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I thought it was excellent and so did the rest of the judges. Kwoka Caramel\u2019s Dark Chocolate Orange Caramel won Gold for Best Taste and Top Caramels, and Bronze for Best Ingredient Combinations and Best Packaging. It rated 4.5 stars.<\/p>\n

You can purchase Kwoka caramels online<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Kansas City Caramels<\/h3>\n
\"Kansas
Kansas City Caramels\u2019 Cherry Almond was my fav this year<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

First time entrant,\u00a0Kansas City Caramels<\/a>,<\/strong> Kansas City, KS, submitted 3 caramels, and one was so special I am still impressed by it. Their\u00a0Cherry Almond Caramel started as a good buttery flavored caramel, but with a soft chew from added cherry pur\u00e9e which turned into cherry-pie-rendered-in-caramel with the pur\u00e9e as pie filling and the crunchy almonds and buttery caramel mimicking pie crust. Know a cherry pie lover? This would make a fun gift with a longer shelf life than the real thing.<\/p>\n

Kansas City Caramels\u2019 Cherry Almond Caramel did very well in the competition, winning Gold for Top Caramels, Silver for Best Ingredient Combinations, Bronze for Best Taste, and an Honorable Mention for Most Unique. It rated 4.5 stars.<\/p>\n

Their other flavored caramel, Cold Brew Coffee, was a dark color from its coffee infusion and smelled like brewed coffee. It was a\u00a0firm chewy caramel with an immediate coffee flavor and a buttery undertone. It wasn\u2019t too sweet but it was a\u00a0little salty, which I thought was unnecessary. It had a nice non-salty coffee aftertaste thankfully. It didn\u2019t win any awards in the competition, but it did receive the highest rating: 4.5 stars.<\/p>\n

Kansas City Caramels\u2019 third entry, the Proper Caramel, was a plain vanilla caramel that smelled buttery. It was another\u00a0firm chewy caramel with a salty buttery flavor that I liked. It was a\u00a0little too sweet for me especially the aftertaste but I still think it was an above average caramel. It\u00a0received an Honorable Mention for Best Taste and rated 4 stars.<\/p>\n

\"Kansas
Kansas City Caramels (I should have tried harder to take a good pic)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You can buy Kansas City Caramels online<\/a> and at some retailers. Check their website for locations.<\/p>\n

Virtuoso Confections<\/h3>\n

Another new entrant, Virtuoso Confections<\/a>,<\/strong> Grapevine, TX, submitted 3 caramels the seemed aimed at adult palates. A welcome trend in confections and it helps that all 3 were excellent.<\/p>\n

\"Virtuoso
Virtuoso Confections caramels<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Salted Espresso definitely sounds like something my mother would have said I couldn\u2019t have as a kid because it might stunt my growth. It had visible bits of coffee beans in the dark colored caramel and a good coffee aroma.<\/p>\n

I liked the crunchy coffee bits in the smooth\/firm\/chewy caramel, and that the flashes of salt weren\u2019t too salty. Overall, it had a nice buttery coffee flavor but it was more bitter than I expected.<\/p>\n

Virtuoso Confections\u2019 Salted Espresso Caramel Bar received Bronze for Best Ingredient Combinations and rated 4 stars.<\/p>\n

Single Malt Scotch? Definitely top shelf stuff in my parents\u2019 house \u2014 as in placed too high for me to even see. The caramel also proved to be top shelf in the regular sense \u2014 an excellent caramel with a delicious distinct scotch whisky flavor. It even gave a slight alcohol buzz on my tongue. While it started strong \u2014 it smelled like bourbon (I am not enough of a connoisseur to tell the difference between scotch and bourbon)\u00a0\u2014 it ended more buttery less bourbon-y.<\/p>\n

Virtuoso Confections\u2019 Single Malt Scotch Caramel Bar received an Honorable Mention for Top Caramels and rated 4 stars.<\/p>\n

Their third entry, Gingerbread, sounded kid friendly but turned out to be a real old fashioned gingerbread flavor experience. The first hint was it smelled\u00a0like ginger and molasses. Then it\u00a0tasted strongly of molasses with a little ginger bite.\u00a0Delicious and not too sweet, it had an authentic gingerbread flavor in a smooth, firm, chewy, not sticky caramel. No coddling or watered down flavors allowed.<\/p>\n

Virtuoso Confections Gingerbread Caramel Bar received Honorable Mentions for Best Ingredient Combinations and Most Unique. It rated 4 stars.<\/p>\n

You can buy Virtuoso Confections caramels and other treats in their Etsy store.<\/p>\n

Panache Chocolatier<\/h3>\n

Veteran competitor,\u00a0Panache Chocolatier<\/a>,\u00a0<\/strong>Leawood, KS, submitted 2 caramels that were much more subdued than their usual competition entries. That\u2019s not a bad thing though because they were both great \u2014 if a little sticky.<\/p>\n

\"Panache
Panache Chocolatier\u2019s Lavender Bourbon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The enrobed square Lavender Bourbon Caramel with its single lavender bud snuggled in a diagonal crevice on top leaked enough to stick to its paper cup but Cacaopod and I persevered, got it unstuck and sampled. We\u2019re like the post office but with chocolate instead of mail delivery. Nothing can stop us.<\/p>\n

The super sticky but very smooth caramel\u00a0inside the milk chocolate shell had a\u00a0distinct raspberry overtone. The lavender was subtle and blended well with the raspberry.\u00a0The piece wasn\u2019t boozy. In fact I didn\u2019t really taste bourbon, so I thought it might be a reference to bourbon vanilla but the description mentioned local bourbon infused into the caramel.\u00a0Overall, the flavors were nicely balanced and the piece was not too sweet.<\/p>\n

Panache Chocolatier Lavender Bourbon Caramel did great in the competition, winning Gold for Best Ingredient Combinations; Silver for Most Unique; Bronze for Best Taste and Top Caramels; and an Honorable Mention for Best Caramel Exterior Design. It rated 4 stars.<\/p>\n

\"Panache
Panache Chocolatier\u2019s Fall Spice Caramel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Panache\u2019s other entry, Fall Spice Caramel, was also a little leaky but not as sticky. The dark shell had no decoration, just a slightly raised diagonal streak of chocolate. The caramel colored inside smelled spicy good and had an immediate pumpkin spice flavor, mostly cinnamon and cardamom. It melted quickly with Amaretto and orange chocolate flavors coming in after the spices. It was another not too sweet entry that was even less sweet than the Lavender Bourbon Caramel \u00a0and had a good aftertaste.<\/p>\n

Panache Chocolatier Fall Spice Caramel received Silver for Best Ingredient Combinations and Bronze for Best Taste. It rated 4 stars.<\/p>\n

Panache Chocolatier has finally opened an online store<\/a>! You can also visit their store in Leawood.<\/p>\n

Stella\u2019s Confectionery<\/h3>\n
\"Stella\u2019s
Stella\u2019s Sea Salt Caramels<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Another competition veteran,\u00a0Stella\u2019s Confectionery<\/a>,\u00a0<\/strong>Milwaukee, WI, submitted their elegantly thin Sea Salt Caramels. The thin squares come in 2 versions: milk chocolate and dark. Both were decorated with a dash of sea salt and contained\u00a0soft chewy buttery caramel in a thin layer of chocolate.<\/p>\n

The buttery caramel dominated the milk chocolate one with a little saltiness asserting itself too. The\u00a0buttery caramel tasted lingered afterwards. It was nice but I liked the dark chocolate version better. It smelled chocolatey\u00a0and the flavor balance was different: more chocolate than buttery caramel with a little salt. It wasn\u2019t\u00a0too sweet or too salty, just a classic dark chocolate caramel.<\/p>\n

Stella\u2019s Sea Salt Caramel received Honorable Mentions for Best Taste and Top Caramels. It rated 4 stars.<\/p>\n

You can find Stella\u2019s chocolate bars and other confections at a few stores across the country. Check their website<\/a> for locations.<\/p>\n

Dolce Lusso Fine Confectionery<\/h3>\n

Return competitor Dolce Lusso Fine Confectionery<\/a>,<\/strong> Minneapolis, MN, submitted 3 interesting caramels. They were all well made caramels \u2014firm and soft, if a little sticky at first \u2014 and they came in very nice slide-out packaging. They would make good gifts for people who enjoy the flavors infused into the caramels.<\/p>\n

\"Dolce
Dolce Lusso packaging was attractive and practical<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I am not the audience for the first flavor I tried, Smoked Tea. I am a big tea drinker \u2014 for some reason my mom was ok with us drinking tea when we were little but not coffee \u2014 but I never have appreciated Lapsang Souchong or other teas of its ilk. So I had to focus on the caramel part of this entry more than the infusion.<\/p>\n

Which was hard because it smelled smoky like a wood fire. It tasted like\u00a0tea at first \u2014 yea! \u2014 then smoke \u2014 boo. So for me it was too one-note.\u00a0I wish they had added another flavor to it.<\/p>\n

It did well in the competition, receiving Bronze for Most Unique and Honorable Mentions for Best Packaging and Top Caramels. It rated 4 stars.<\/p>\n

I like the Pumpkin Spice Caramel better. Again it smelled like its name. It had a\u00a0little soapy overtone but was mostly pumpkin spice tasting with an apple cinnamon aftertaste.<\/p>\n

Dolce Lusso Confections\u2019 Pumpkin Spice Caramel received Honorable Mentions for Best Ingredient Combinations and Best Packaging. It rated 4 stars.<\/p>\n

\"Dolce
Dolce Lusso caramels<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I was intrigued by the Honey & Cardamom Caramel, which smelled like graham crackers.
\nAt first the taste was too much cardamom. I think they should tone it down. Thankfully the caramel ended buttery with a better cardamom balance. A little salt crystal appeared at the end to finish a little salty, but that faded away quickly in the aftertaste.<\/p>\n

Dolce Lusso Confections\u2019 Honey & Cardamom Caramel received Silver for Best Ingredient Combinations, Bronze for Best Taste, and Honorable Mentions for Best Caramel Exterior Design and Top Caramels. It rated 4 stars.<\/p>\n

You can buy Dolce Lusso\u2019s caramels online<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Honorable Mentions<\/h2>\n

There were a couple of repeat competitors this time who submitted caramels that while not in my top tier are worth mentioning.<\/p>\n

\"Choceur
Choceur Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Choceur<\/h3>\n

Choceur,<\/strong>\u00a0a Polish candy maker carried by\u00a0Aldi\u00a0stores in the US submitted their\u00a0Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels. The package reminded me of chocolate packaging at Trader Joe\u2019s, which makes sense since the 2 grocery chains are owned by 2 brothers.<\/p>\n

The caramels smelled very chocolatey when I opened the package and they looked\u00a0very salty, which made me hesitate. The sample was salty on my tongue but not strongly salty. Instead the salt did a good job supporting the soft chewy caramel enrobed in a good generic chocolate. It had a slightly\u00a0coconutty undertone but it wasn\u2019t objectionable.<\/p>\n

\"Choceur
Choceur Sea Salt Caramel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I thought Choceur\u2019s Sea Salt Caramels were a decent supermarket caramel. They didn\u2019t win any awards in the competition, but did rate 3.5 stars.<\/p>\n

You can find the Choceur line at Aldi supermarkets and on Amazon<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Delysia Chocolatier<\/h3>\n

Competition veteran,\u00a0Delysia Chocolatier<\/a>,\u00a0<\/strong>Austin, TX, submitted a 4-piece collection that included flavor profiles I thought were interesting and tasty, although I don\u2019t think they all qualified as caramels.<\/p>\n

\"Delysia
Delysia Chocolatier Deconstructed Sweets<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Of the 4 flavors in Delysia Chocolatier\u2019s Deconstructed Sweets collection, \u00a0I liked the Classic Cheesecake Chocolate truffle and Caramelized Toffee Cheesecake truffle best.<\/p>\n

The Classic Cheesecake Chocolate truffle filled Delysia\u2019s typically\u00a0thick chocolate shell with white chocolate and marscapone cheese. This piece was definitely not a caramel, but a nice flavor combo in a truffle. I though the mild sweet cheese balanced well with the bittersweet chocolate, although it didn\u2019t have any tangy\u00a0cheesecake notes that I expected from the name.<\/p>\n

I liked the Caramelized Toffee Cheesecake truffle more. It was described as having cheesecake ganache infused with caramel with bits of caramelized English toffee and salt mixed in.\u00a0The sweet white ganache inside the thick dark chocolate shell did have visible bits of toffee. I was surprised the toffee bits\u00a0weren\u2019t crunchy. The salt didn\u2019t make it salty, just supported the flavors. It was mostly a chocolatey piece with a hint of butter but not caramel tasting enough to me to qualify as a caramel.<\/p>\n

The Spiced Muffin Chocolate truffle again wasn\u2019t a caramel. The ganache was the same flavor as Delysia\u2019s Campfire Spiced Muffin Bark\u00a0which I liked in the 2022 White Chocolate competition<\/a>. In this case, I liked Delysia\u2019s thicker shell because its\u00a0good slightly bitter dark chocolate\u00a0toned down the abundant baking spices and cardamom in the ganache.<\/p>\n

The final piece, Spiced Dulce de Leche Chocolate truffle, was the most caramel-y of the pack. Inside the\u00a0thick dark chocolate shell was a caramel flavored ganache, but it only briefly tasted of caramel before the cardamom and cinnamon took over.\u00a0Cayenne pepper joined the fight too. I thought the piece was too complicated with too much cardamom although the heat was good. Personally I\u2019d get rid of or tone down the other spices so it is more of a fiery caramel instead.<\/p>\n

Deconstructed Sweets collection won Gold for Best Packaging; Silver for Best Caramel Exterior Design, Best Taste, and Top Caramels; Bronze for Best Ingredient Combinations; and an Honorable Mention for Most Unique. It rated 4 stars.<\/p>\n

Delysia chocolates are currently only available online<\/a> and for curbside pickup at\u00a0their shop in Austin, while the shop is closed due to COVID.<\/p>\n

More winners<\/h2>\n

You can see the complete list of 2022 Top Luxury Caramel Award winners<\/a> on the International Chocolate Salon site.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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