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Madison’s Vata Edari Will Be a Judge at 2020 Academy of Chocolate Awards in London

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Syovata Edari

Vata Edari, master chocolatier and founder of CocoVaa Chocolatier on Madison’s east side, was honored at the 2019 Academy of Chocolate Awards last July with 11 awards – including 3 gold awards – at the iconic Claridge’s Hotel in London. Overall, she has been the recipient of 29 awards in the world’s longest-running and most prestigious international food competition for people in the craft chocolate industry.

This year, she will be heading back to London to be a judge.

“I’m excited to be invited as a judge this year, “ says Edari in a statement. “It’s an honor and an opportunity I don’t take for granted.”

Vata Edari and son, Solomon, 11, show off awards for CocoVaa Chocolatier at the Academy of Chocolate Awards in London last year.

In 2018, Edari’s talent as a chocolatier landed her on the Academy of Chocolate Award’s Roll of Honour Board as an ‘International Rising Star’ making her one of only a small handful of U.S. nationals to ever make the Roll of Honour Board.

The Academy of Chocolate was founded in 2005 to promote a greater awareness of the difference between fine chocolate and mass-produced chocolate confectionery and to encourage consumers to ‘look beyond the label.’ Since its foundation, the London-based Academy of Chocolate Awards has been one of the most highly anticipated events of the year among craft chocolate makers and chocolatiers around the world. The awards attract interest from chocolate lovers, industry experts and press from every continent.

Judging sessions will take place at Westminster Kingsway College in London over a 16-week period between February and May 2020. Chocolate products will be marked on appearance, depth of aroma, flavour, length and complexity to determine gold, silver and bronze winners in each category.
Vata Edari hosts a guided tasting at CocoVaa to teach people how to taste chocolate.
Edari will be judging in the filled chocolate category next month, which is her area of expertise.
“Competing (and winning) has been a great confidence builder and has allowed me to establish networks with other chocolatiers and chocolate makers internationally,” Edari said in a statement.
Edari has a special lineup for Valentine’s Day coming up for CocoaVaa. She will spend the entire week after that tasting creations from chocolatiers all over the world at Westminster College in London.
“It’s a tough job…but someone has to do it,” she laughs.