Mount chocolate maker's London win

Tauranga chocolate maker Glenn Yeatman of Solomans Gold. Photo supplied

A chocolate bar made in Mount Maunganui has won an international award.

Tauranga-based chocolate brand Solomons Gold was among 600 entries from all over the world in the Bean to Bar category at the Academy of Chocolate Awards in London.

Solomons Gold smooth dark chocolate 70 per cent was one of 50 bars recognised with a silver award in the Dark Bean to Bar category, under 80 per cent cacao solids.

The bar was made with cacao from the Solomon Islands, and is free of dairy, nuts and gluten.

Chocolate maker Glenn Yeatman said he was "over the moon" about the win.

"We have worked so hard over the past four years perfecting our chocolate, and this is a testament to all our hard work and passion for our chocolate.

"This award also honours our cacao growers in the Solomon Islands that we work so closely with. They are in the middle of the cocoa harvest at the moment and they are going to be absolutely thrilled when they hear the news," Mr Yeatman said.

Solomons Gold opened a bespoke chocolate factory in Mount Maunganui in 2014.

This year's awards were the ninth hosted by the Academy of Chocolate, which was founded in 2005 by five of Britain's leading chocolate professionals.

The awards were judged by the Acadamy and a panel of international journalists, chefs, pastry chefs and experts in chocolate and food.

They considered the appearance, depth of aroma, flavour, length and complexity of each chocolate.

The silver award-winning bar, Solomons Gold smooth dark chocolate 70 per cent. Photo supplied