There's something rather special about walking into a chocolate shop and being able to see exactly where the chocolate is made.
At our Salcombe chocolate factory on Island Street, that's precisely what you'll find.
From the moment you step through the door, you're greeted by the wonderful aroma of freshly made chocolate. Look through the glass wall and you'll see our chocolatiers at work, transforming carefully sourced Peruvian cacao into the chocolate bars, truffles and gifts that fill our shelves.
It's a little glimpse into the world of bean-to-bar chocolate making, right here in Devon.
A Chocolate Factory with a Difference
When we created our chocolate factory and shop, we wanted it to be more than somewhere to buy chocolate. We wanted visitors to experience the process, discover the craftsmanship involved and perhaps learn something new about how chocolate is made.
There's even a little hint of Willy Wonka about the place.
Through our full-height glass wall, visitors can watch the production process taking place, from the melanging and conching of our cacao to the tempering and moulding of finished chocolate.
It's fascinating to see just how much work goes into something we all enjoy so readily.
What Is Bean-to-Bar Chocolate?
Bean-to-bar means making chocolate from the cacao itself, rather than purchasing finished chocolate to melt and reshape. For us, the process begins with organic, fairly traded cacao sourced from Peru.
Our cacao is carefully selected for its flavour before being transformed into chocolate in our Salcombe factory.
The process involves several important stages.
Melanging
Our cacao nibs are ground and blended with other ingredients in granite melangers, gradually creating a smooth chocolate mixture.
This process takes time, but it's essential for developing the texture and consistency we're looking for.
Conching
Conching helps refine the chocolate's flavour and texture, allowing some of the sharper notes to soften while preserving the character of the cacao.
Tempering
Tempering is the carefully controlled process of heating and cooling chocolate to achieve the correct crystal structure.
It's what gives a beautifully finished chocolate bar its shine and that satisfying snap when you break off a square.
Moulding and Finishing
Once tempered, our chocolate is poured into moulds and allowed to set before being carefully finished and packaged.
Every stage requires skill, patience and attention to detail.
Made in Salcombe, Inspired by the Rainforest
Although our chocolate is made on the Devon coast, its story begins thousands of miles away in the Peruvian rainforest.
Our cacao is sourced from farming cooperatives in Peru, where growing conditions help produce beans with wonderful depth and character.
We believe that understanding where ingredients come from is an important part of making good food.
It's also why we place such emphasis on natural ingredients, responsible sourcing and making our chocolate ourselves.
A Little Something for Everyone
Our factory shop is home to a tempting collection of chocolate bars, handcrafted truffles, chocolate gifts and seasonal creations.
Whether you prefer rich dark chocolate, something smooth and milky or a flavour that's a little more unusual, there's plenty to explore.
All our chocolate is made without nuts, gluten, soya or palm oil, using natural ingredients.
And because everything is made here in Salcombe, you can enjoy a little piece of Devon wherever you happen to be.
Visit Our Salcombe Chocolate Factory
If you're planning a visit to South Devon, we'd love you to pop in. You'll find our chocolate factory shop at Hannaford's Landing on Island Street, just a short walk from the waterfront and our Salcombe Dairy ice cream shop.
Come and watch our chocolatiers at work, discover how bean-to-bar chocolate is made and find a new favourite to take home.
Find our chocolate factory, explore our other shops and plan your visit on our Visit Us page.
