Known as the "Oscars of the Chocolate Industry," the Asia-Pacific leg of the International Chocolate Awards (ICA) was held on April 19th in Central World, Bangkok, with an awards ceremony. Taiwan's chocolate brand "Fu Wan Chocolate" once again achieved remarkable success, winning gold medals for its "Taiwan No. 1 100% Pingtung Dark Chocolate," "Jasmine Strawberry Fermented 70% Dark Chocolate," and "Fermented First Press Cocoa Butter," totaling 11 golds, 5 silvers, 12 bronzes, and 2 special awards, securing a total of 30 awards. This performance reaffirmed its status as the most awarded brand in Asia, with a cumulative tally of 65 gold medals and over 200 awards in the ICA competition, establishing Taiwan's unique position in the global fine chocolate community.
In markets like Europe and the Americas, high-percentage dark chocolates are often less popular, as anything above 70% cocoa can be deemed too bitter. However, during the awards, Martin Christy, Chairman of the judging panel and founder of the International Chocolate Awards, praised Fu Wan's gold-winning "Taiwan No. 1 100% Pingtung Dark Chocolate," scoring an impressive 89.8 points, stating, "This 100% chocolate offers an unprecedented level of affinity!" Another gold-winning chocolate, "Jasmine Strawberry Fermented 70% Dark Chocolate," impressed judges with its unique fermentation process, highlighted by Monica Meschini, co-founder of ICA and renowned Italian food educator, who remarked, "Fu Wan Chocolate's Warren uses fermentation like cooking with chocolate!"
Notably, Japanese brands using Fu Wan cocoa beans, such as Rico Kagurazaka and Musee du Chocolat Theobroma, also achieved excellent results, showcasing FUWAN's distinct craftsmanship and flavor profiles in cocoa and chocolate. FUWAN's chocolates are characterized by low cadmium, lead-free, no residual pesticides, 100% transparent, 0% deforestation and 0% child labor.
Founder of Fu Wan Chocolate, Hua-Jen Hsu, expressed gratitude for the awards, stating, "Thanks to the judges for their recognition and to all colleagues, partners, and farmers for their collective efforts! This year marks Fu Wan Chocolate's tenth anniversary, during which we've consistently showcased Taiwan on the international stage through chocolate, sharing Taiwan's terroir stories and making friends worldwide through chocolate. In the future, Fu Wan Chocolate will continue its original mission, using Taiwan's proudest teas, fruits, spices, and local ingredients to showcase the beauty of Taiwan's terroir and craftsmanship in the most enchanting language of chocolate. Congratulations to all winners!"
At the end of April, Fu Wan Chocolate will host over a dozen chocolate industry professionals from Germany, the UK, the US, Canada, and Thailand for a five-day course on its globally unique chocolate-making techniques, spanning from cocoa tree field management to fine chocolate production. This course represents a pivotal turning point for Taiwan's cocoa agriculture, transitioning from primary processing to knowledge economy. Through this initiative, Fu Wan Chocolate aims to enhance global cocoa and chocolate quality efficiently, promoting its sustainable chocolate business model, which won the Japan Good Design Gold Award, and fostering a positive cycle across the chocolate industry chain, gradually eliminating global chocolate industry practices such as child labor, rainforest deforestation, and inherited poverty.
Fu Wan Chocolate Overview: Nestled at the foot of Dawu Mountain, Fu Wan Chocolate employs sustainable farming practices to cultivate cocoa, employing various innovative techniques and boundless passion to complete the Tree-To-Bar process from cocoa fruit to chocolate within its estate. With local small-scale farming ingredients, Fu Wan Chocolate narrates Taiwan's terroir stories to the world through chocolate, celebrating life's beauty from land to soul. In 2019, it earned the title of Best Dark Chocolate globally at the ICA World Chocolate Awards, accumulating over 200 global awards and earning the nickname "NASA of the Chocolate World." Regular annual inspections ensure no residual pesticides and low cadmium content, providing consumers with essential guarantees. Its practices surpass fair trade standards, promoting ethical practices such as zero child labor, no rainforest deforestation, upheld since its founding. In 2022, its "The Future of Chocolate - A Sustainable Chocolate Business Model" won the Japan Good Design Gold Award, presenting a new vision for the global cocoa industry's sustainability path.
