For the second straight year, Kyoto-based chocolatier Susumu Koyama has been awarded with top distinction among foreign chocolate masters by France’s Le Club des Croqueurs de Chocolat.

Meanwhile, his Patissier es Koyama confectionary store in Sanda City, located north of Kobe, was awarded the highest rating of five bars (an equivalent to five stars, also for the second straight year) in the latest edition of the group’s guidebook, Le Guide du Club des Croqueurs de Chocolat.

The awards ceremony was held last November 2nd at the Salon du Chocolat global chocolate fair in Paris, France. “I appreciate that I have been given an opportunity to experiment with chocolates to such an extent (since winning the 2011 award),” Koyama said.

With no overseas training, 48-year-old Koyama became the first Japanese five-star winner in 2011. This year, he was awarded for creating five new varieties of chocolate, some of which have butterbur sprouts and sake lees as ingredients.

Koyama said he is already developing new chocolate recipes, including one that uses ingredients unique in Kyoto, in preparation for next year’s contest.

Source: The Japan Times

Photo credit: KYODO