CHOCOLATE CONNOISSEUR JOURNAL

Chocolate. Culture. Craft.

Kessho Craft Chocolate Gold Award Gift Box

Posted by Eric Battersby | Nov 14, 2026 | Chocolate Offers

Kessho Craft Chocolate: The Story Behind Austin’s International Chocolate Sensation

Posted by Eric Battersby | Nov 10, 2026 | Chocolatier / Chocolate Maker: In Focus - Issues, In Focus

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

Kessho Craft Chocolate: The Story Behind Austin’s International Chocolate Sensation

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

Today I’ll take you on a journey that includes everything from Guava Lime to Salted Plum… from Jasmine Yuzu to Black Sesame Sunflower… and even from a Lamb Skewer bar (no lambs were harmed!) to Lychee Rose. So settle in for a long yet blissful read, as we dive deep into the truly wonderful world of Kesshō Craft Chocolate.

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

Kessho Craft Chocolate Gold Award Gift Box

by Eric Battersby | Nov 14, 2026 | Chocolate Offers

Kesshō co-founder Liang Wang personally curated this selection for Chocolate Connoisseur readers, selecting three chocolate bars, plus the uniquely wonderful Black Sesame Butter Cups as well. The Black Sesame Butter Cups also won the ICA Special Prize for Reinterpretation, “recognizing a familiar form rebuilt in another culture’s language.”

Kessho Craft Chocolate: The Story Behind Austin’s International Chocolate Sensation

by Eric Battersby | Nov 10, 2026 | Chocolatier / Chocolate Maker: In Focus - Issues, In Focus

Tucson Chocolate Factory: In Focus

by Eric Battersby | Oct 13, 2026 | Chocolatier / Chocolate Maker: In Focus - Issues, In Focus

Welcome to Tucson’s Historic Fourth Avenue neighborhood, new home to Tucson Chocolate Factory as of March 2026. Here you’ll find Armando Bezies, award-winning chocolate maker who actually started his chocolate journey as quite an unexpected pivot…

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…