Chocolate, gin and ginger give Miss Witt sweet taste of success

SWAY chocolatier Kerry Witt has taken yet another top prize – this time competing against 47 countries at the Academy of Chocolate Awards.

Her passion fruit chocolate received a bronze medal while her Bombay Sapphire cocktail creation – called The Laverstoke after the famous gin distillery – was highly commended.

The passion fruit sweet is a collaboration with Ecuador-based Susana Cardenas, and uses her chocolate.

Kerry, who trades as Miss Witt, said: “It’s all about the ingredients, using different chocolate makers, and tasting their chocolate first allows us to source the best chocolate.

“I have known Susanna Cardenas for a few years now and know the care of every step that goes into making her chocolate, from finding rare cacao beans to working closely with the farmers and the final stage of turning the beans into chocolate.”

Kerry’s Bombay Sapphire signature cocktail contains gin, Martini, ginger ale and elderflower cordial made with Swiss Felchlin chocolate.

Keith Hurdemen, of Felchlin, paid tribute to Miss Witt, saying: “She has consistently proven herself to be one of the leading chocolatiers in the UK.

"Her many years of awards are a testament to her excellent skills. As a result, she passes on her fantastic knowledge to students of all ages."

Kerry spent her childhood making sweets for friends and family. At school she always scooped top prize in the cake competitions, and by 16 she was training at Brockenhurst College in hospitality and patisserie.

In 1997 she was working as a pastry chef at Le Poussin in the village, which was owned by famous Michelin star chef Alex Aitken. She then went on to work at the Bluebird in Chelsea, London, and locally at Carey’s Manor.

She set up her Miss Witt chocolate business in 2012 and has won a host of awards since.

She makes bespoke chocolates for clients include several four-star hotels while also hosting workshops at her base in Sway and running children’s parties.

For more information go to www.chocolatebymisswitt.com.