One of Australia’s leading bespoke chocolate labels, Koko Black, has awarded its annual Creator’s Cup to chocolatier Ashleigh Price. Her winning chocolate – a lime cheesecake praline – will be in stores later this month.
It was the second year of the initiative, which challenges team members from all aspects of the chocolate business to ‘break the mould’ and try their hand at developing a new product destined for Koko Black’s famed praline cabinet at 20 stores nationwide.
The company said the cup was created to celebrate experimentation and innovation creativity when working with chocolate.
Anyone from across the company – retail, warehouse, support centre, and production teams – can enter.
There are three rounds and this year 31 entrants were put to the test. Round one required them to put a personal spin on a Koko classic, and from there the top 15 went on to participate in a mystery box challenge. Ultimately, three finalists presented the judging panel –lead by Koko Black Head Chocolatier Remco Brigou – with a never-before-seen praline recipe. The three creations went to a company-wide blind-taste test before the winner was crowned.
The 2024 Creators Cup was awarded to Ashleigh Price, with her Lime Cheesecake Praline. Bursting with lime jelly and zesty vibrancy balanced perfectly with a rich creamy cheesecake ganache, the crumbly shortbread chocolate base is the perfect foundation for the creamy silk layers above.
Price, a chocolatier with Koko Black since 2021, said, “I wanted to create a twist on my all-time favourite dessert, the classic cheesecake. Adding a layer of zingy lime jelly to the creamy ganache awakened the palate like a bust of sunshine.”
Her Lime Cheesecake Praline will be commercialised and available in-stores nationally. Price also receives the Creators Cup Chef Jacket and a luxury weekend away.
