On our way out of Seattle, we decided to stop by Theo Chocolates to take their Factory Tour (and TASTING! of course).
We were required to adhere to health codes, including a beard cover for my sexy new husband.
Getting ready to tour the chocolates #theotour #theaxelbaums by @skywolfx
The first part of the tour was in a room where they explained how they were the first Organic and Fair Trade bean to bar maker in the US (very cool). They also explained where the chocolate comes from (a combination of South America and Africa, and chocolate tastes different from each of those regions… who knew) and how it’s made. Then they gave us a few samples of different percentages of dark and milk.
Theo Chocolate tour and tasting #theaxelbaums #theotour #nycnomnom by @nycnomnom
We then toured the floor to see how it’s all done.
1930s German “Deathstar” roaster. You wish there was smell-o-vision at this moment. #theaxelbaums #nycnomnom #theotour by @nycnomnom
I found it very interesting that the room was kept VERY warm (to make sure the chocolate stays melty). I don’t know how those guys work in there all day (well… the smell of chocolate was so intoxicating that perhaps I do get it!)
Yum. Surrounded by chocolate. They even clean the chocolate pipes with chocolate. #theaxelbaums #nycnomnom #theotour by @nycnomnom
Chocolate making in progress #theotour by @skywolfx
And we were impressed to see that they do it all by hand, including mixing in all the mix-ins:
Mixing in the mix-ins by hand. #theotour #nycnomnom by @nycnomnom
And constructing and cutting the bars:
Hand decorating and assembling the chocolates. #nycnomnom #theaxelbaums #theotour by @nycnomnom
And then we ended in the shop, where there is MORE tasting (which is smart, because it meant we bought a whole lot more than we intended to after trying just how awesome they were). There was no sample of the Big Daddy, but after reading the description (homemade caramel, mashmallow, and graham crackers enrobed in chocolate), we just had to try them. And it was definitely one of the best candy bars I have ever had.
“Big Daddy” from Theo Chocolate. Super awesome. Homemade chocolate, marshmallow, caramel, and graham cracker. #theotour #nycnomnom by @nycnomnom
We also loved some of the special “Fantasy” bars, especially the bread and chocolate (the buttered toast pieces tasted so great in chocolate), the fig fennel and almond bar (fennel in chocolate is a great combination, as it turns out), and the hazelnut crunch which was made with hazelnut brittle.
This was some of the best chocolate I’ve had (and I fancy myself a bit of a chocolate fanatic). Next time I need a gift for a chocolate lover, I will most certainly be ordering from Theo. And the factory tour was fun!
