Few can resist the beautiful packaging, rich taste, and indulgent texture of artisanal chocolate. Also known as bean-to-bar, these perfect sweet treats are handcrafted by knowledgeable chocolatiers. Quite unlike the mass-produced bars we pop into our basket at supermarkets!
Artisanal chocolates are not usually associated with our local F&B scene, but recently there’s been a surge in this niche craft. Here we round up five artisanal chocolate brands you can get your hands on in Singapore. Most pride themselves on being sustainable and eco-friendly, even better for the environmentally-conscious chocolate lovers!
Founded in 2014 by Anjali Gupta, a professional banker-turned chocolatier who is extremely passionate about the world of chocolate, Anjalichocolat offers a wide selection of distinct premium chocolates, freshly prepared daily using only the finest ingredients.
Aside from luxurious handmade chocolates, Anjalichocolat also aims to bring an engaging chocolate experience to all chocolate lovers through their chocolate making and appreciation workshops. Temper by Anjalichocolat was introduced in 2015 to offer a beautiful and cosy setting for chocolate-themed events, chocolate classes, chocolate tasting sessions, corporate team building, and private events.
Founded in 1962 by chocolatier Rudolf Läderach in Glarus, Switzerland, Läderach Chocolatier Suisse now has over 75 chocolate shops around the world. Through the decades, the Läderach family business has been handed down from generation to generation, ensuring sustainable quality products with strong values at the heart of the business.
The brand is most famous for its delicious large slabs of FrischSchoggi (fresh chocolate), which are handcrafted without additives or preservatives by artisans in Switzerland. Sold by weight, the slabs come in a range of flavours including Rocher Milk (crispy roasted almond slivers in Swiss milk chocolate), Raspberry Blackberry (crushed raspberries and fruity blackberry pieces mixed with the Swiss white chocolate) and Nut Trio Milk-Dark (caramelised Piedmont hazelnuts, almonds and roasted pistachios enrobed in a mixture of Swiss milk and dark chocolate).
Multi award-wining chef Janice Wong’s chocolate bonbons are an undisputed favourite among sweet-toothed Singaporeans. Her signature confectionaries range from quirky creations like Chocolate Paint Jars and Chocolate Crayons to flavoured chocolate blocks and assorted gift packs.
Her Signature Singapore Series features local flavours like Chilli Padi, Gula Melaka Pandan, Kopi, and even BBQ Bakkwa Chicken praline poprocks. As a nod to Wong’s desire to create a world of edible art, each of her creations serve as a canvas, which are hand-painted with colourful hues and paint splatters in order to leave an artistic touch and to help complement the delicious chocolate.
Fossa Chocolate is an artisanal bean-to-bar craft chocolate maker based in Singapore. Known for their ability to offer surprising but delicious flavours, the brand’s artisan chocolates make use of ingredients one never imagined to be associated with chocolate, such as salted egg, seaweed and even spicy mala.
Inspired by a new generation of chocolate makers around the world, Fossa Chocolate aims to bring the wonderful flavours of cacao to their neighbourhood, while sharing the authentic taste of Asia with the world.
In April 2015, husband and wife duo Nina and Dima Minkovs quit their days jobs to start Hello Chocolate from their Singapore apartment. Now, the chocolate retailer offers one of the biggest selections of artisanal bean-to-bar chocolates from all over the world. Brands include Naive Chocolate from Lithuania, Kad Kokoa from Thailand, and Omnom from Iceland.
Hello Chocolate also offers a bespoke gift service. Simply select your preferred chocolates from their current collection and your favourite 100% reusable handmade furoshiki (a square-shaped cloth used in Japan to wrap items and carry them) wrapping for a truly personalised sweet treat.
In an unassuming location on Sin Ming road, Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie offers freshly handmade chocolates every day, using resonsibly-sourced cacao from Asia. Their creative flavours are inspired by everyday conversations and the community. So expect a fun blend of classic chocolate delicacies as well as a mix of flavours and ingredients from around the region. Flavours include the adventurous Mala! Mild Spicy and Speckled! Salted Egg Yolk, to the Single Origin – 45% Sungai Ruan Milk which uses milk chocolate sourced from Sungai Ruan in Malaysia.
Besides the aforementioned bon bons, they also sell chocolate bars and a cheeky chocolate liqueur.
Text: Gracie Stewart/Harper’s Bazaar