Canadian Craft Chocolate Makers
The early craft chocolate or "bean to bar" movement makers were primarily from the United States, some names include, Dick Taylor, Raaka, Dandelion Chocolate, and Fruition Chocolate Works.
The movement to control the full process from bean to bar and to create deliciously crafted chocolate in small batches started to slowly spread across the world. You can now find makers in almost every country.
One country which saw a growth was just north of United States, Canada. Here is a list of Canadian craft chocolate and bean to bar makers you need try.
Qantu Cacao Et Chocolat, Montreal, QC
One of the industry’s most adorable married couples, Elfi and Maxime exploded onto the chocolate scene in 2017, winning two Academy of Chocolate Awards. They encourage the farms they work with in Elfi’s home country of Peru to avoid the economic temptation of commercial cacao strains or hybrids, instead promoting biodiversity by focusing strictly on native varieties of cacao. Qantu’s chocolate is a deep dive into the role genetics and terroir play in flavors novices and experts alike can revel in.
Qantu was featured in our November 2021 Kekao Box.
Hummingbird Chocolate, Almonte, ON
Erica and Drew, founders of Hummingbird Chocolate spent their careers working with farmers in developing countries and gained huge respect and affection for people who make food, from grower to artisan. After returning to Canada, they started to make chocolate as a hobby, the hobby soon gained traction from the community and the two turned the hobby into an award-winning chocolate shop.
Palette de Bine, Mont-Tremblant, QC
Palette De Bine, is a small batch producer from Mount Tremblant. Quality is essential to them, priding themselves in personally selecting the best independent producers from around the world. All of their chocolate is roasted, winnowed, ground, couched, aged, tempered, molded and hand wrapped at their workshop in Mont-Tremblant.
Avanaa, Montreal, QC
Avanaa, started after Cath a geologist visited Mexico and thought, why not make chocolate in Montreal. She soon left her job to pursue Latin America for the best cacao. She brought back the cacao she found to Montreal and started crafting chocolate bean to bar.
ChocoSol Traders, Toronto, ON
ChocoSol is a craft chocolate maker, which is on the mission to craft revolutionary foods that are good for mind, body, and soil. ChocoSol was founded in 2004, in Oaxacan, Mexico and has been making craft chocolate at their Toronto facility since 2006.
East Van Roasters, Vancouver, BC
East Van Roasters is a specialty cafe and social enterprise. East Van Roasters creates organic bean to bar chocolate and roasts coffee, which is prepared at their cafe in Vancouver.
Jacek Chocolate Couture, Edmonton, AB
When Jacqueline Jacek couldn’t decide whether to become a fashion designer or a chocolatier, she combined the two to create her dream job. Jacqueline runs Jaceks like a clothing line, launching seasonal collections that are a treat to the eyes and the taste buds.
Sirene, Victoria, BC
Taylor Kennedy, the founder of Sirene Chocolate, has been a globetrotter for most of his life with a life long obsession of wanting to know how things worked and why. Through his work with the National Geographic Society, he worked for more than 18 years in remote countries with rich agricultural heritage where he began to make the connection between food and the growing demand for ethically sourced products. With Sirene Chocolate, Taylor is able to oversee production from the cacao bean to the bars on the shelves and feel good about each of the steps along the way.
SOMA, Toronto, ON
In 2003 David Castellan and Cynthia Leung had the idea of creating a small, funky chocolate factory, with the idea came SOMA. Fast forward to today, they have grown to two stores, a small chocolate factory, a network of wholesalers, and a small team of wonderfully kooky and talented people. The love and curiosity of chocolate motivate SOMA to continue making exceptional chocolate.
To get started with craft chocolate, start with our Kekao Box. We search the world for the finest chocolate bars and bring them right to your doorstep monthly. From rich dark Peruvian chocolate bars to new start-up chocolate bars on the come up, you never know what you'll get inside the box! Each month we will curate 4 to 5 premium specialty crafted chocolate bars.
If you want to just try a couple of bars, check out our online chocolate store.
If you have any questions regarding this blog, our Kekao Box, or premium specialty crafted chocolate bars, feel free to contact us! Keep up with us by subscribing to our newsletter or following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
