If you asked us 15 years ago if we thought Ontario was a gourmet-chocolate destination, we'd probably laugh; but all across the province, master chocolatiers are opening up boutique shops with truffles, bars and confections that have always wanting more. These small-batch artisans are committed to quality and their craft and for the first time, most are making their products available online.
Here are six Ontario artisan chocolate makers we love - all only a click away!
Centre & Main Chocolate
50 Centre Street, Warkworth, ON
centreandmainchocolate.com
Angela Roest — Award-Winning Chocolatier and owner of Centre & Main, loves marrying local flavours with the best ethically-sourced chocolate from across the world. Each bar is a thoughtfully designed work of art. We love the Strawberry Rhubarb Saffron Bar made with True Saffron (grown outside of Warkworth!); and the Blackcurrant bar made with Popham Lane Farm currants.
SOMA CHOCOLATEMAKER
443 King Street West, Toronto, ON
www.somachocolate.com
The team at SOMA have been making small batch, bean to bar chocolate in Toronto since 2003. What started as a small shop in the Distillery District has grown to three locations and plenty of chocolate offerings - including a Mexican Hot Chocolate drink that we literally can't stop thinking about. For those looking to gift their sweet creations, we highly recommend the trying the Gianduja trio - their love story to nuts - and available until Valentines Day.
SWEETNESS CHOCOLATE
2120 Gladstone Ave, Windsor, ON
sweetnesschocolate.ca
Michèle Bowman - owner of Sweetness Chocolate - is a chocolate maker and lover of all things sweet. We love her Roasted White & Sea Salt creation. It's 40% white chocolate, gently roasted at low temperatures until the milk solids are caramelized and infused with vanilla and a touch of sea salt.
STUBBE CHOCOLATES
1224 Wellington St W Unit A1, Ottawa, ON
stubbechocolatesottawa.com
The Stubbe family has been in the chocolate business on both sides of the pond since 1845. They are known for their tortes and melt-in-your-mouth truffles - like the Amaretto and Milk Chocolate pictured - which are downright sinful.
WALKER'S CHOCOLATES
1224 Wellington St W Unit A1, Ottawa, ON
stubbechocolatesottawa.com
The family behind Walker's Chocolates has been making chocolate in Burlington - and now Hamilton - for 37 years. They offer over 50 different flavours and moulded chocolate creations you could only dream about — everything from chocolate iPhones and Lego blocks to beer bottles and chocolate pizzas.
HUMMINGBIRD CHOCOLATE
9 Houston Drive, Almonte, ON
hummingbirdchocolate.com
The team at Hummingbird Chocolate know that real chocolate starts with high-quality cacao beans sourced from the best cacao farms in the world. They've been celebrate the world over for the commitment to quality. We've loved their chocolate for a long time and can't wait to try the new Rough Grind, a delicious throwback to how chocolate began.
