A UK team is competing in the World Pastry Cup today (26 January) in Lyon, France.

Led by chocolate specialist Barry Johnson, the team which also includes sugar specialist Javier Mercado and ice-cream specialist Andrew Blas, will today create a variety of desserts live in front of the judging panel, and an audience of around 2,500.

The biannual competition features 21 teams from five continents competing for the title of Best Pastry Chef.

This year candidates will be asked to sculpt a block of chocolate and include this in their artistic creation made of chocolate.

The trials the pastry chefs must compete in include:

  • 3 chocolate desserts
  • 3 frozen fruit desserts
  • 12 identical desserts on plate
  • 1 artistic creation made of sugar
  • 1 artistic creation made of chocolate
  • 1 artistic creation made of sculpted hydric ice

Teams are scored for taste, work method, time-keeping, organisation, skill and presentation.

The 2013 UK World Pastry team took ninth place in the cup, but described this placing as “disappointing”.