Orange Mustachio, created by 11-year-old Sophia Evans from Nelson, is the inaugural winner of Wellington Chocolate Factory’s Chocolate Dreams Competition. The bar will now be made into a limited-edition release and will be on the shelves just in time for Christmas.
Almost 2000 children submitted their dream chocolate and wrapper for the competition, and around 5000 Kiwis voted for their Top Five Finalists: Pavlova Lova, Campfire Delight, Buccaneer Brittle, Huntzels and Orange Mustachio.
The winner was chosen at a special event at the Wellington Chocolate Factory (WCF). Judges included Steve Logan (founder Logan & Brown Restaurant), Callum Davies (Founder of HELL), Gina Kiel (the artist behind many of WCF’s iconic bars) and Kalliana Kong (a founder of Wellingnoms Instagram), Anna Calver (WellingtonNZ), and Luke Smith (The Chocolate Bar).
Gabe Davidson, Head Judge and Founder of WCF, says the flavour combos dreamed up by Kiwi kids were innovative, inspiring and in some cases mind-blowing. He says Orange Mustachio is memorable, as you don’t need to have pistachio spelt out to know what’s in the bar.
“There is a nice balance between the saltiness of the pistachios with the freeze-dried orange included in the chocolate. It gives you a nice balance of sweetness – with a tang from the orange and the texture was amazing, the pistachios give it a lovely crunch,” says Davidson.
Sophia Evans says inspiration for the bar came from orange chocolate chip ice cream and watching pistachio gelato being made on the Food Network. She’s looking forward to wrapping the first Orange Mustachio bar and visiting Weta Workshop on her trip to Wellington in October.
Davidson says the high standard of the Top Five meant judges had a tough time deciding the winner. “I want to thank all of our finalists – Jessee, Sophia, Ruby, Austin and Luka – for the time and effort they put into creating their chocolate dreams. Any of these could be a limited-edition bar.
Sophia Evans and her family will travel to Wellington in October. She will wrap the first bar of the Limited-Edition Orange Mustachio Bar, which will be available for sale through WCF’s Online Store and at the Eva Street Factory later this year.
Thanks to WellingtonNZ, they will also experience the best of the Capital with a weekend full of activities, including; two night’s accommodation, a family pass to Wellington Zoo, a day tour at ZEALANDIA and a Weta Cave Workshop Tour & Miniature Effects Tour at Weta Workshop
About Wellington Chocolate Factory
Nestled in the heart of Eva Street (Wellington’s most sought-after foodie laneway) Wellington Chocolate factory has been lovingly handcrafting New Zealand’s finest small batch chocolate since 2013. New Zealand’s original, organic, bean-to-bar chocolate producer, it offers ‘true to the bean’ flavours, with nothing added, except what matters allowing the taste and real character of its beans to shine. Great New Zealand Chocolate that’s organic, sustainable and contributing to a better world, Wellington Chocolate Factory sources only the highest quality beans from ethical suppliers – supporting local farmers and ensuring fair trade; creating a better world, one bean at a time.
