We’re very excited to be working with CocoaRunners to bring an eclectic range of craft chocolate that tastes great on it’s own, and even better when paired with wine, gin, and whiskey.
The guys at Cocoa Runners have sampled over 5000 bars in their quest to find the world’s best chocolate from dedicated artisan chocolate makers all over the world, and our manger and in-store chocolate expert, Victoria, has worked closely with Cocoa Runners to provide an excellent range that is available to enjoy both in store and at home. Expect some fun and informative wine and chocolate tasting events in store, where you will have the opportunity to sample through our range alongside wine, gin and whiskey pairings. You will also get to learn about the processes involved in making the perfect bar of chocolate, from bean to bar!
You can also enjoy our chocolate range in store; we will be offering wine and chocolate flights, or you can simply sit down in our wine lounge with a bottle and a bar (or two!) – our staff are on hand to help you pick the perfect bottle along with the perfect bar.
The range is organised into categories, to help you choose the perfect bar –
Dark & Berry, Dark & Indulgent, Dark & Earthy, Smoked Dark Chocolate, Dark Milk, White Chocolate, and Inclusions, Flavoured & Textured.
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DARK & BERRY
Marou – Ba Ria (76%)
A rich and fruity chocolate, made with beans from the Bà Rịa province of south eastern Vietnam. This bar is a sublime and intense chocolate experience that tastes as good as it looks.
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Akesson’s – Madagascar (75%)
This Madagascan bar has all the typical fruity and berry flavours with subtle hint of roasted, woody notes.
£6
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DARK & INDULGENT
Blanxart – Dark (72%) Dominican Republic
This super dense bar has an almost molten quality. Tasting a piece of this incredibly rich, creamy bar is just like eating the centre of a chocolate fondant – truly impossible to resist. Great with Chardonnay.
£5
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DARK & EARTHY
Montecristi –Canuto (70%) Signature Bar
The aroma of this bar is quite deceptive. As you inhale the chocolate, you are met with a wave of spice. While you might expect this to develop into a peppery spice on the palate, the flavour develops in quite a different direction. Instead of a punchy spice, the chocolate develops a rich molasses like quality, with just a hint of warmth coming though in its cinnamon finish.
£6
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Marou -Ben Tre (78%)
This generous dark chocolate bar has been crafted in Vietnam using cocoa beans from the province of Ben Tre. The well- tempered bar is glossy with a clean snap. The added cocoa butter (made from beans of the same region) gives the chocolate a smooth, buttery texture which makes eating it a particularly indulgent experience. The bar opens with a spicy aroma that leads to notes of nutmeg, cassia and peppercorns. A little sweetness mixes with mellow coconut. An excellent match for Gin!
£6
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SMOKED DARK CHOCOLATE
Solomon’s Gold – Smooth (70%)
An intense and savoury dark bar. The chocolate has some fruity notes infused with a seriously smoky aroma, as it is dried near open fires instead of under the sun. Wooded hints of tobacco, rough leather and saddle soap drift under the smoke. Though not that dark, the strong flavours counteract any sweetness, making this an intense and unique tasting experience. Amazing with Whiskey.
£6
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DARK MILK CHOCOLATE
Bonnat – Surabaya (65%)
This buttery dark milk chocolate bar is a must for those who like their chocolate smooth and creamy. We detected a slight smokiness throughout and some subtle hints of nuts at the finish. Our best selling bar and a firm staff favourite!
£5
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TCHO –Serious Milk Cacao (53%)
This bar has a wonderfully smooth texture, a deep, fudgey chocolate flavour and a gentle fruity note. It is also certified kosher, organic and gluten free.
£5
WHITE CHOCOLATE
Original Beans –EdelWeiss (40%)
Made with Trinitario cacao butter from the Yuna River Valley in the Dominican Republic combined with Swiss alpine milk this bar is delightfully sweet and silky bar. With rich notes of banana milk this is a deliciously different white chocolate bar, definitely one to savour.
£4
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INCLUSIONS, FLAVOURED & TEXTURED CHOCOLATE
Menakao–Cocoa Nibs and Sea Salt (63%)
The chocolate is full of the typical berry notes of Madagascan cacao. The added cocoa nibs give a powerful crunch, bursting with fruit and tannins. The hint of sea salt serves a double purpose. It opens the palate, helping you to get the full flavour of the berries and red fruits. At the same time, the salt cuts through some of the nibs’ intensity, revealing their roasted fruit and raisin notes while reducing the bitterness.
£4
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Akesson’s-Madagascar (75%) Dark Chocolate with Pink Peppers
This bar is flavoured with pink peppercorns which adds a subtle flavour to the fruity and tart Madagascan Trinitario cocoa more than they add heat. It’s an exotic, warming chocolate experience that we think everyone should try. Pepper vines are frequently grown on cocoa plantations protect cocoa pods from too much sun.
£6
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Soma Old School Jamaica (66%)
Break off a crumbly piece and bite into the flaky, messy bar. The texture has the light, airy quality of a souflee, and disintegrates in your mouth into sweet, crunchy shards. Soma has crafted a bar that gives us the same sense of fun as a child with a chocolate bar.
£9