Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Local Chocolate

Valentine’s Day is one of the busiest days of the year at retail stores and restaurants, but if you want to make it special, skip the box of chocolates that came from who-knows-where and celebrate with local Virginia chocolate instead! The state has many small artisan chocolatiers who spend long hours crafting their delicious creations. This guide will help you find chocolatiers and get in touch with them to buy their goodies!

The Ultimate in Hand Crafted Bean to Bar Chocolates

Who knew that enjoying a quality dark chocolate bar could be so rewarding? For those of us in love with rich, hand-crafted chocolates, finding a handmade bar of roasted cacao beans to nibble on is as much an art experience as it is a culinary experience. Fortunately for lovers of quality artisanal food, Virginia has several bean-to-bar makers to choose from.

Wild Blue Chocolate

Recent winners of the Good Food Award, Wild Blue Chocolate’s owners Mike and Jessie Sever source their cocoa beans directly from artisan cooperatives, supporting their personal mission of improving farmers’ livelihoods and supporting sustainable agriculture in a very hands-on way. Starting with beans shipped directly from the source, they produce chocolate bars in exceptionally limited production runs. Wild Blue Chocolate is carried in select retailers in Richmond, Charlottesville, and Fredericksburg, Virginia. Wild Blue also offers online ordering, but hurry, Valentine’s is coming soon!

Potomac Chocolate

For over 10 years, Potomac Chocolate has been crafting 100% organic, fair trade, single-origin chocolate bars. Their small-batch craftsmanship ensures that you are receiving a product of excellence and purity. Committed to taking care of the environment and improving communities, the organic compound they source from is still produced by traditional farming methods rather than being outsourced overseas. Every purchase of a bar of Potomac Chocolate supports its mission. Purchase online, in select shops, or directly from their retail location in Occoquan, VA.

Cocoa Manna

For those in Charlottesville and D.C., there’s no better gift than a box of cocoa from Charlottesville’s own Cocoa Manna. For more than 20 years, Tammy Morrison has been blending fine single-origin chocolates with spices and dried fruits to create an incredible array of gourmet treats. Each bar is handmade on-site in their one-of-a-kind facility and shipped directly to you or your loved one. And, if you place your order by February 10th (and select 2nd-day delivery), your package will arrive just in time for V-Day!

Sweet Treats from Virginia Chocolatiers

Show your love with an over-the-top indulgence. Your sweetheart will appreciate these hand-crafted locally made chocolates from Virginia-based chocolatiers. Choose from bonbons, gift packs, and assorted boxes of chocolates, or mix up a special chocolate bar with your favorite flavors for a personalized treat that shows how much you care about someone.

Gearharts Chocolates

When Tim Gearhart started Gearharts Fine Chocolates in 2001, artisan chocolate was a rarity in the United States. He brought a global vision of fine chocolate making, gleaned from years of experience in professional kitchens to his Charlottesville shop. Today, the team at Gearharts Fine Chocolates creates distinctive artisan chocolates enjoyed by customers in their local shop and online.

Cocoa Mill Chocolate

Founded by Stacey Graham, Cocoa Mill specializes in hand-crafted truffles and other decadent delights. This Richmond, Virginia company has received national recognition as a creator of exquisite fair trade chocolates. The Wall Street Journal chose Cocoa Mill’s Edible Chocolate Valentine Truffle Heart Box as “Best Overall.” Other accolades are from Bon Appetit, CBS Morning News, The Washington Post, Virginia Living, and many more.

Chocolatesville

College friends at UVA and now husband and wife, Mary Ellen and Rob Isaacson use imported Belgian chocolate to make the sweets sold at Chocolatesville. Relying on cocoa butter rather than palm kernel oil, paraffin, or butter oil keeps their products clean and vegan. Whatever the recipe, it must be working, as they’ve been selling tasty treats since 2016.

The Royal Chocolate

The Royal Chocolate makes ethically sourced, all-natural gourmet chocolates and gifts. They believe that quality handmade chocolate is one of life’s great pleasures. From gift boxes to freshly-made truffles, hand-dipped fruit jellies, and custom wedding favors, they offer an unparalleled selection of tempting treats for every occasion.

Warfels Sweet Shoppe

Elaine Warfel Stauffer is a second-generation candy maker and a third-generation farmer’s market vendor. And, since 1993, she’s been offering fresh, quality chocolates and other sweets to those in the know in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Warfels candies are all made the old-fashioned way: in small batches from fresh ingredients.

Shenandoah Fine Chocolates

Using fresh, local ingredients and time-honored French methods, Shenandoah Fine Chocolates is on a mission to handcraft artisan chocolates that are as memorable as they are delicious, their desire is for each bite of handmade confection to be a luscious treat. If you’re near Winchester, Virginia, check out their chocolate cafe, too!

More ways to get your chocolate fix in Virginia

Here are other small Virginia businesses that have chocolate treats for your sweeties.

• Odyssey Chocolate, Charlottesville, VA

• River-Sea Chocolates Factory, Chantilly, VA

• Fleurir Chocolate, Alexandria, VA

• Taylor Made Chocolate, Inc., Chester, VA

• Chesapeake Chocolates, Reston, VA

• Cocoa Vienna, Vienna, VA

• Cameron’s Coffee and Chocolates, Fairfax, VA 

• Artisan Confections, Arlington, VA

Don’t see your favorites? Let us know!

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