Banyan Tree Chocolate Named Best Chocolatiers and Confectioners in America

March 1, 2021 – Sarasota

Banyan Tree Chocolate is delighted to announce their inclusion as one of the Best Chocolatiers and Confectioners in America by the International Chocolate Salon. This competition is a culmination of a years’ worth of entries including Best Caramel and Best Spicy Chocolate. 

This year’s entries included “Miss Betsy”, a passionfruit and jasmine tea caramel, which won Silver medals for Most Unique and Best Taste and described by one judge as “wonderful bright flavors that sings in the mouth!”. This years spicy entry was “Hot and Fuzzy”, a truffle using local company Mazzone Olive Oil products. Hot and Fuzzy is a layered bon bon of peach balsamic reduction and a pepperoncino olive oil ganache, which won a silver medal for Top Spicy Truffle and gold for Most Unique. Judges comments included “The Banyan Tree Chocolate was both beautiful and delicious”. 

Master Chocolatier, Morag Reid say “We have struggled this year along with everyone else, so this news is particularly rewarding”. 

The International Chocolate Salon was founded in 2007 by TasteTV and TCB Cafe Publishing and Media. At that time TasteTV produced the first major artisan and premium chocolate event on the West Coast of North America, the San Francisco International Chocolate Salon. This event was followed by Chocolate Salons in Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, as well as other cities. 

In 2009, the International Chocolate Salon began award competitions focusing on various categories of chocolates and confections. To this day it is one of the premier international bodies celebrating and honoring artisan and premium chocolates and confections. 

Banyan Tree Chocolate, headed by Master Chocolatier Morag Reid is located in Sarasota, Florida and specializes in hand-made, artisanal chocolate, free from artificial flavorings and preservatives, using certified fair-trade and organic chocolate, as well as creating their own chocolate bars from the bean. 

Morag graduated with honors from the renowned Ecole Chocolat in Vancouver, Canada and earned her Master Chocolatier Certification in 2016. She has also trained with Melissa Coppel, Richard Tango-Lowy, and Luis Amado – named three of the Top Ten Chocolatiers in North America by Dessert Professional Magazine. She can usually be found at her shop in Palmer Ranch, Sarasota, Florida.

Banyan Tree Chocolate & Café, 5170 Palmer Plaza Blvd. (Clark & Honore), Sarasota, FL 34233. 941.923.2462 banyantreechocolate.com