Walk into our chocolate factory shop on Island Street in Salcombe and you’ll discover something a little different. Through the glass wall, visitors can watch our chocolatiers at work, turning cacao into finished chocolate. There’s often a wonderful chocolate aroma in the air, and more than a hint of the playful magic we hoped to create when designing the space.
What does bean-to-bar actually mean?
Bean-to-bar chocolate is made from cacao rather than by simply melting down chocolate made elsewhere. Our process begins with organic, fairly traded Peruvian cacao, which arrives in the form of cacao nibs. We then take responsibility for developing the flavour and texture in our own factory. That gives us greater control over what goes into each bar.
From cacao nibs to smooth chocolate
Our chocolatiers use melangers to grind and blend the cacao with other ingredients. Conching helps develop the chocolate's flavour and texture. Once the chocolate is ready, tempering carefully controls its crystal structure, giving the finished bar a lovely shine and satisfying snap. Finally, the chocolate is moulded and packaged. Every stage takes skill, care and patience.
Natural ingredients, carefully chosen
We believe chocolate doesn't need an unnecessarily complicated ingredient list. Our bars are made using natural ingredients and are free from nuts, gluten, soya and palm oil. The character of the cacao remains central to the finished flavour, whether you prefer something creamy and milky or a richer dark chocolate.
Come and see for yourself
The best way to understand bean-to-bar chocolate is to see it being made. Our chocolate factory shop is a wonderful stop during a visit to Salcombe, with chocolate bars, truffles and gifts to discover after you've watched the production process. You can also explore our chocolate collection online if a trip to Devon isn't on the cards. Find our shop and other locations on the Visit Us page.
