CHOCOLATIER Krystyna Dodds is rubbing shoulders with some of the world’s top confectionery names.

The former teacher runs her chocolate empire from her Tyneside home, but that hasn’t stopped her winning a top award from the Academy of Chocolate.

The award comes hot on the heels of her acceptance into the Guild of Master Craftsmen making her business the only company of its kind outside London to become a member.

“I couldn’t believe it when I read our name in the winners' list,” said Krystyna, who hand-makes Curiously Wicked chocolates from her home in New Hartley, near Whitley Bay.

“It is a worldwide event so we were competing with some of the most established names from across the globe, and it is judged by real connoisseurs.

“It really is the highest echelons of chocolate-making. It is a great honour, and incredible as we only launched the company last November.”

Krystyna’s The Original Cinn chocolate – a truffle filled with cinnamon, fresh apple and Jim Beam – won Bronze in the Best-filled Fruit Chocolate category of the London-based awards.

Her creation was judged by a panel which includes Michelin-starred chefs, industry insiders and top chocolate connoisseurs.

The patron of the Academy is TV chef Michel Roux, star of Masterchef and Hell’s Kitchen, who has two Michelin stars to his name.

Krystyna, 49, was an English teacher at Bothal Middle School, in Ashington, Northumberland, before she started making chocolates in 2008. She took the plunge and launched her own chocolate company last November, fulfilling a life-long ambition.

And the move paid off as Curiously Wicked built up a following among chocolate aficionados for its selection of luxury handmade confectionery.

The company has secured orders with department stores such as Fenwick, in Newcastle.

Krystyna, mother to Alex, 15, and Stefanja, 18, says she aims to set chocolate trends and stay ahead of competition.

She has developed a pure water truffle filled with chocolate and water, so it is sugar- free, lactose-free and low in fat.

Creations include Lemastaire and Ginger Rogers – a lemon, whisky, ginger and lemongrass chocolate with a Hollywood-style gold finish and ruby sparkles – and the ‘Five-a-Day’ range, featuring Late Lychee, Mango Mango, Blueberry Bomb, Balsamic Raspberry and Strawberries and Black Pepper chocolates.

Krystyna also runs market stalls in Tynemouth, Gibside, Allendale, Ponteland, Morpeth and Hexham, and hosts a website at curiouslywicked.co.uk