CHOCOLATE CONNOISSEUR JOURNAL

Chocolate. Culture. Craft.

Chocolate News

Gearharts Fine Chocolates Goes for a New Look to Celebrate 25 Years

Chocolate News

Over the summer, Charlottesville, Virginia-based artisan chocolatier Gearharts Fine Chocolates unveiled a new packaging design at the 2026 Summer Fancy Food Show. The refreshed design features refined typography and cacao blossom-inspired botanical artwork, to celebrate their 25th anniversary...

Chocolate Cocktails

How To Make a S’mores Martini

s'mores martini, Chocolate Cocktails, Chocolate Cocktails - Issues

S'mores Martini, yep! Straight from the pages of Chocolate Connoisseur, here's a delicious recipe for a S'mores Martini. Chocolate, marshmallow, and graham cracker -- enjoy this S'mores cocktail!

In Focus

Amano Chocolate: In Focus

Chocolatier / Chocolate Maker: In Focus - Issues, In Focus

In Focus Features return, and this time you'll travel from New Mexico to Hawaii... from Washington to Madagascar... from Papa New Guinea to Peru, as you join Art Amano of Amano Chocolate on...

Everywhere Chocolate

Wild West Chocolate Cowboy Coffee Bar Tasting

Tony’s Chocolonely – Everywhere Chocolate

Holiday Chocolate – Everywhere Chocolate

Lily’s Chocolate: On the Chocolate Regular

Chocolove – On the Chocolate Regular Preview

Divine Chocolate – On the Chocolate Regular Preview

Holiday Chocolate 2018 – Chocolate Gifts

Alter Eco – On the Chocolate Regular

On the Chocolate Regular – Theo Chocolate – Prev...

Holiday Chocolate 2017 – Chocolate Stocking Stuffers

On the Chocolate Regular: Endangered Species Chocolate Previ...

Taza Chocolate Preview

The Ethical Bean

Big Chocolate’s Ugly Secret

January 2017 Issue Previews, The Ethical Bean

In Ghana and the Ivory Coast, roughly 2.6 million children work in the cocoa fields, and nearly all of the children, over 2 million, work as child laborers. Almost every single one of these children work in hazardous conditions as well...

Chocolate Recipes

DoubleTree Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Chocolate Recipes, April 2020 Issue Previews

If you’re looking for a silver lining in the stay-at-home situation so many of us currently face, how about a delicious, chocolatey one instead?! For the first time ever, a favorite on-the-road treat is...

Chocolate Tastings

Chocolate Tastings: The Joys Of A Local Chocolate Tasting Club

Chocolate Stories, Chocolate Tastings

Last month I had the wonderful pleasure of attending a chocolate tasting club here in Phoenix, and let me tell you… I can’t recommend the experience enough. Regardless of where you are on your chocolate connoisseur journey, I will say it unequivocally right now – there is a place for you at chocolate tastings. It will serve you well, put a big smile on your face...

The Healthy Bean

Stevia, A Natural Sweetener?

Chocolate, Cadmium, and Lead?

Healthy Chocolate: Five Ways to Add Healthy Chocolate to You...

Marisa’s Chocolate Adventure: More Than Just a Label &...

Chocolate Spa Treatments at Home Preview

CHOCOLATE CONNOISSEUR JOURNAL: ALL POSTS

Gearharts Fine Chocolates Goes for a New Look to Celebrate 25 Years

by Eric Battersby | Sep 22, 2026 | Chocolate News

Chocolate Tastings: The Joys Of A Local Chocolate Tasting Club

by Eric Battersby | Sep 12, 2026 | Chocolate Stories, Chocolate Tastings

Cacaoteca Chocolate Tasting – Part 2

by Jaclyn Palumbo | Aug 23, 2026 | Chocolate Tastings

Welcome to the second part of my two-part Cacaoteca Chocolate tasting. Today I am tasting the Cacaoteca Oscuro Dark 78% and the Cacaoteca Oscuro Dark 84%. Before we get started, I want to drop a few notes here for anyone relatively new to chocolate tastings…