Differential Chocolates
We explore what makes chocolates different.
Homemade in Alexandria, Virginia
Commercial chocolate is made from a blend of different cocoa beans roasted heavily to taste the same every time. However, every cocoa bean has its own unique flavor based on region, varietal, and how it’s processed.
We refine and showcase what makes the chocolate different.
Our Chocolate Making Process
Preparing the cocoa
Before cocoa beans can become chocolate, they need to be processed. We start by roasting the beans in a homemade roaster. The temperature and speed of the roast can emphasize different flavors in the final chocolate. Once roasted, we crack and winnow the cocoa beans to separate out the cocoa nibs, which are used to make chocolate, from the shell.
Melanging into chocolate
Melanging is where cocoa nibs and other ingredients, like sugar, are ground into a smooth and homogeneous texture. Dark chocolate requires at least 24 hours in a melanger but often goes for as long as 72 hours. We try to stay on the shorter end of this range to preserve fruity and herbal flavors that can be lost through extended conching times.
Tempering
The final stage of chocolate making involves the infamous tempering process. Tempered chocolate sets properly to give the characteristic shine and snap. We love to make classic chocolate bars, as well as experiment with fun combinations like double layered bars, such as the cherry white chocolate and nutty dark chocolate pairing shown above.
Gallery
What We Do
We focus on weddings, other large events and collaborations in the Northern Virginia region. Because it can take time to choose packaging, stock cocoa beans, and make the chocolate, we ask that you reach out at least 3 months prior to the event. For small orders, we usually have a rotating stock of chocolate bars. We make truffles twice a year (around December and March). Please check the table below to see what we currently have available!
What’s in Stock
| Item | Amount Available | Unit Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Cranberry White over Spiced Milk Chocolate stacked bar | 6 bars | $5.5 |
| Vanilla Bean White Chocolate Tasting Notes: vanilla, cream, sweet | 7 bars | $5 |
| PB&J Dark Chocolate Tasting Notes: peanut butter, jam Origin: Eastern Region, Ghana | 8 bars | $5 |
| Anaimalai Hills Dark Chocolate Tasting Notes: banana, green apple Origin: Anaimalai, India | 9 bars | $5 |
| Chocolate Lover’s Chocolate Tasting Notes: fudge, cashew, grapefruit Origin: Hacienda San José, Ecuador | 4 bars | $5 |
| Truffles coming soon! |
All bars have a net weight of 65 grams.
Ingredients: Our dark chocolate contains only cocoa beans, cocoa butter, and sugar. Milk and white chocolate contain milk and may contain other fruits and spices for flavor, such as vanilla bean or cranberries.
CONTACT US
We do large custom orders for special occasions or small sales from our available stock.
