2025 BEST 50

Since 2009, Cacao of Excellence has been the entry point for cacao producers to participate in the Cacao of Excellence Awards, the most prestigious global cacao competition that recognises the work of cacao farmers and celebrates the quality and flavour diversity of cacao produced around the world. Held every two years, the Cacao of Excellence Awards bring together leading sensory evaluation experts and the chocolate industry to reward producers of excellence. By empowering producers, Cacao of Excellence works to drive the expansion of superior quality cacao to ensure that a greater share of cacao producers prosper.  

For this 2025 Edition, Cacao of Excellence received 191 cacao bean samples from 45 origins. A detailed physical evaluation was carried out and all accepted beans were processed into cacao mass at the Cacao of Excellence R&D Laboratory. Blind sensory evaluations were then carried out by members of the Cacao of Excellence Technical Committee from June to September 2025. Based on this blind sensory evaluation, the Best 50 samples have been selected for the 2025 Edition.

We invite you to discover the Best 50 selected from the four cacao-producing regions worldwide.These Best 50 will advance to the next stage of the Cacao of Excellence Awards. Processed into dark chocolate following the same recipe, the Best 50 will be evaluated by a distinguished jury of cacao and chocolate professionals to determine the Gold, Silver and Bronze award recipients. These winners will be announced at the Cacao of Excellence Awards Ceremony on 20 February, 2026 at the Chocoa Trade Fair, in Amsterdam, Netherlands during Amsterdam Cocoa Week. Click here to attend Chocoa and discover the Award winners!