The Club des Croqueurs de Chocolat has issued its annual ranking of the top 100 chocolatiers in France.

At the top of the list this year are: Fabrice Gillotte (Dijon), Vincent Guerlais (Nantes), Jean-Paul Hévin (Paris), Pierre Hermé (Paris), Pâtisserie Lac (Nice), Pascal le Gac (Saint-Germain-en-Laye), La Maison du Chocolat (Paris), Pariès (Saint-Jean-de-Luz), and François Pralus (Paris).

Judging was based on blind taste tests of five pieces submitted by each chocolatier: dark chocolate ganache, milk chocolate ganache, praliné, a speciality item, and a new creation.

The full report, which lists the best chocolatiers throughout France by region, can be found here.

The Club des Croqueurs de Chocolat, an exclusive group of 150 serious chocolate enthusiasts, doles out the Meilleurs Chocolatiers de France awards each year at the annual Salon du Chocolat.