Double Great Taste Gold: Why Our Solomon Islands Chocolate Keeps Winning Hearts (And Awards!)
We're absolutely bursting with pride and excitement – our 75% Solomon Islands chocolate has just won its SECOND consecutive 2-star Great Taste Award! ⭐⭐
For the second year in a row, the Guild of Fine Food has recognised this chocolate as something truly special. This award represents our incredible partnerships with dedicated farmers and our commitment to quality over every step of the bean-to-bar process.
What a 2-star Great Taste Award means:
‘A Great Taste 2-star award signifies an "Outstanding" product, meaning it is above and beyond delicious … Products with a 2-star rating are not common, as fewer than 10% of entries achieve this high level of quality and flavour.’
EXPLORE OUR SOLOMON ISLANDS COLLECTION
The Heart of Everything We Do
Our Solomon Islands 75% forms the foundation of so many beloved customer favourites. This award-winning chocolate lives in our bestselling pistachio and ginger inclusion bars, our signature truffle boxes, our sea salt and cacao nib creations, and our pure 100% bars. Every time you taste these chocolates, you're experiencing the magic of beans grown and turned into chocolate with extraordinary care.
What Makes These Beans So Special?
Every bean tells a story, and this one is particularly close to our hearts. Our Solomon Islands cacao comes from farmers like Anges, who took over her father's farm and brings extraordinary care to every harvest. She sings as she works, showing the deep connection between farmer and crop that makes all the difference.
"I don't want to 'smoke my babies,'" Anges explained when describing her commitment to sun-drying techniques over faster smoke-drying methods. This careful approach develops the distinctive fruity and citrus notes that make our chocolate exceptional – clean flavours that truly shine without being masked by artificial additives.
The cocoa we use is directly sourced from the Kebu family farm in the Solomon Islands, in the Guadalcanal region. Luisa made the journey herself in September 2024, almost exactly a year ago!
Her experience there reminded her that the work we do isn’t just about the chocolate: “It’s about the stories we share, the connections we build, and the passion that drives us to create. Here’s to the journey ahead, and to the farmers like Anges who inspire us every step of the way.”
Want to read more about the Solomon Islands trip? Check out the blog here
Recognition That Matters
The Great Taste Awards are considered the most respected food awards in the UK. When a panel of expert judges, food writers, and chefs taste hundreds of products blind and choose yours to celebrate, it means something to celebrate.
Winning twice in a row tells us we're crafting something that stands out in a crowded market.
More Than a Bar
What really gets us excited about this win: it validates everything we believe in. Direct trade and our bean-to-bar process all come together in this one beautiful bar that keeps earning recognition.
The partnership with farmers like Anges shows in every bite. The depth of flavour in our chocolates directly reflects the thoughtful processes employed on the farm. Each piece connects you to the land, the people, and the love that nurtures the cacao.
When customers tell us they can taste the difference in our chocolate, when they become regulars who order box after box, when food experts recognise our work – it reminds us why we fell in love with chocolate making in the first place.
While the awards are great, there was a moment recently that resonated with us even more – we took our chocolate back to the farmers who sell us the cocoa so they could try the bars for the first time. Seeing their reactions was a really special moment, and it reminds us why we do what we do.
Want to see the farmers try our chocolate for the first time? Watch the video on our Instagram.
Taste the Award-Winner Yourself
Ready to discover what all the fuss is about? Our 75% Solomon Islands bar is available as a standalone treat, or you can experience it in countless ways across our range.
Customer Favourite: Sicilian Orange
Our 2024 bestselling bar combines this award-winning Solomon Islands base with vibrant Sicilian orange pieces. The fruity citrus notes of the cacao pair beautifully with the zesty orange, creating a Mediterranean-inspired treat that customers can't get enough of.
If you’re looking for something else, we’ve got you covered. From 100%-loving purists to inclusion lovers, there's a way for everyone to taste this award-winning chocolate.
SHOP OUR SOLOMON ISLANDS COLLECTION
Want to see more behind-the-scenes moments and be first to hear about future product drops? Follow us @luisasveganchocolates, where we share our craft chocolate-making journey
Thank you so much to our customers for loving what we make - to be recognised again by the industry’s most respected food awards means the world