Chocolate Monkey

You know it's good if I'm eating my own inventory….

Last week I had the priviledge of leading a virtual chocolate tasting for a corporate client for the FOURTH time (and I am beyond grateful 🙏).
Each tasting has featured different 🍫 and the most recent featured these Pecan Paradise "mini" bars from -toasted pecans in vanilla nougat topped with their amazing salted caramel covered in chocolate that tastes like… chocolate

I like to refer to Mayana as adult candy bars but this is NOT candy- it's real ingredients (ethically sourced of course), real flavor and delicious.

A satisfying indulgence that I now need to restock 🤣

Best of the Northwest Chocolate Tasting Kit were shipped out today and *there are no words* for how amazing this bar smelled when I opened this gorgeous packaging- as in, I stopped working just to be present in that moment and inhale 😊

Now *this particular bar* was not a winner this year- I don't believe it was even entered as he only brought a few of them- but Foundry chocolate won an award last year with it's Tanzania 70% 🍫 - I bought that bar, along with several others, and really enjoyed them so this year I did not miss the opportunity to buy such a special bar (and a few others as well of course).

Made with a unique almendra blanca “Carmelo” cacao from Finca Frida, Soconusco, Mexico this bar is an exceptionally rare and truly remarkable experience. 

If YOU would like to savor a moment with a sample join us for the tasting next Saturday, Jan 31st. We'll taste and chat about this bar, 8 award winners and a deer milk bar also from New Zealand.

A few tickets are still available via the link in bio/comments!

One of the things I love about craft chocolate is there is always something new to explore. Even after all these years there is always a fresh flavor, a new twist on a classic or a different technique showing the creativity of the 🍫 makers.

And you don’t need to taste everything- I certainly tried and failed 🤣 , but tasting just one new flavor can be enough to keep your journey exciting.

I've curated a live virtual Zoom 🍫 tasting each month for 2026- I've brought in a few new themes as well as bringing back beloved favorites. They are Friday or Saturday evenings beginning at 730pm EST with 10-12 samples each.

Saturday, January 31 Interesting Inclusions in Chocolate X: The Best of Northwest

Friday, February 20  Interesting Inclusions in Chocolate XI: Theobroma, Chocolate’s Family Tree

Friday, March 20 Sixth Annual Celebrating Women in Cacao: A Craft Chocolate Tasting

Saturday, April 18 The Sweet Side of Chocolate: Cacao and Conservation III

Saturday, May 2 Interesting Inclusions in Chocolate XII: Tasting Tea in Craft Chocolate

Friday, June 12 Spirited Chocolate: Infused Craft Chocolate III

For more info or to register see the link in bio/comments

Here is to a year that feels inspiring, joyful and tastes amazing!

Last chance on 2025 Advent Calendars 🎄

This huge box contains delicious confections, single origin dark chocolate 🍫 , plenty of holiday inclusion bars and three very different drinking chocolate mixes.

There are several boxes available but I'll close orders after I ship on Monday to focus on my corporate clients for the month of December.

I can't wait to start enjoying mine! (PS- I already started 😂)

Three events to close out 2025 are now up!

#1 Fall Wine and Chocolate Pairing/ Mystery Chocolate Tasting III 🎃
Sunday Nov 9th 7pm
My favorite three-in-one event we will pair different craft chocolates, guess the flavors of even more samples and then end with a (Vegan!) Cocoa Praline cocktail/mocktail 🍸

#2 The 2025 Advent Calendar is now available for pre-order 🎁
26 amazing chocolate samples from around the world in a gorgeous gift box- I only create a few each year and these will sell out fast!

and #3- **new this year** is a Sunday Morning Drinking Chocolate Zoom Meetup
Part 1 is included in the advent calendar but you may also purchase it separately and/or add on Part 2 in January

Thank you for your patience everyone 🙏 and can't wait to "see" you soon 😻
(As always, link for more info and to purchase is in bio)