Wellington Chocolate Factory wins gold
Wellington Chocolate Factory has taken home two golds and a silver in the 2020 NZ Chocolate Awards this week.
The business’s Raspberry Milk Bar was a joint category winner, and its Peru Chocolate bar came first in its categories. Star Anise Milk Chocolate took out silver in another.
Founded in 2013, this was the factory’s most successful year yet, and founder Gabe Davidson said the recognition couldn’t have come at a better time.
‘‘The last week has been a stressful one, and like many other Kiwis we’re all feeling a bit uncertain – so winning these awards is a huge morale boost for the team,’’ he said.
All three of these single-origin, small-batch varieties are made right here in the capital city at Wellington Chocolate Factory’s home on Eva St. The business sources beans from ethical suppliers, supporting local farmers and ensuring fair trade.
Judges described the Raspberry Milk Bar as enticing, strong and alluring with outstanding depth and complexity.
One judge said: ‘‘If I close my eyes it’s like a spoonful of my nana’s homemade raspberry jam, sweetly tickling my tongue.’’
Davidson loved that the product evoked such a beautiful childhood memory. ‘‘It’s great when people can be transported somewhere else for a moment or two – a micro-vacation.’’
This bar had five ingredients to balance: organic nibs, cocoa butter, raw sugar, milk solids and freeze-dried raspberries, thrown in the stone grinders with the chocolate.
Davidson went to Peru in February last year to catch up with his suppliers, and said the effects were ‘‘really positive’’.
‘‘Because of craft chocolate and people paying a fair price, some farmers are transitioning from making coca, which is used to make cocaine and controlled by the cartels, to growing cocoa beans.’’
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The factory partnered with Trade Aid, which imports the beans and sells them on to Davidson. ‘‘We have a lot of faith in what they do in terms of auditing.’’
The factory was still producing chocolate, although its shop was closed for the lockdown. People could buy a block at New World or Countdown supermarkets, or online.