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Christine & Jillian

@lets.talk.chocolate

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2 friends on a journey to taste & review all the (ethically sourced) chocolate they can get their hands on.

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While in the Netherlands recently, I had the joy of meeting up with Laila from @theheartofcacao ! She so generously invited me and Ryan to visit their space where they make their chocolate, and gave us a private tasting.

It was glorious! Let me tell you, they are taking such great care with each step of their process and are pouring their love, joy and passion into all they do. The result is quality bars of chocolate and ceremonial drinking cacao, as well as a wealth of knowledge and a desire to bring light and education about the world of cacao.

We had the best time hearing their story, learning so much, and tasting such incredible cacao. Even after all of this time tasting chocolate and growing in knowledge about cacao, I still found myself surprised by the nuances and differences between the various origins.

My favorite was the lavado cacao from Tabasco, Mexico — rather than fermenting the bean, it gets washed (ie. lavado) and then sun dried. I found it to have notes of raw pecans with a subtle fruitiness.

Thank you, Laila, for the invitation!! I love the chocolate community — such kind and generous people, excited to share what they love. 💗

#letstalkchocolate #theheartofcacao #craftchocolate #beantobar #dutchchocolate by @lets.talk.chocolate

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2 months ago

Raaka - Maple & Nibs 75%

Back in 2020, we were obsessed with @raakachocolate. Before we discovered other amazing makers, it was our first love, when it came to craft chocolate, and we tried as many of their bars as we could get our hands on!

But when we got to this one, we were confused. The packaging claims that it will taste “like a brownie straight out of the oven. Rich and smooth on the inside, generously sprinkled with toasted nibs for a crispy, crunchy outside.”

The confusion came because this bar tastes absolutely nothing like a brownie. Or maple. It is bright, fruity, and not too deep, with no discernable maple flavor. It’s not a bad chocolate, but because our expectations weren’t calibrated correctly, we gave it a disappointing 3/5 for enjoyability.

Six years later, I (Christine) got the chance to try this bar again with my family. I didn’t reference our notes from 2020, but we all had the exact same experience that Jillian and I had back then. It’s still the same fruity chocolate with the same confusing name and flavor claims. We all agreed that we would have enjoyed it more if we hadn’t gone in with such specific expectations.

Have your expectations ever ruined your experience of a chocolate? We’d love to hear about it!

#letstalkchocolate #chocolatereview by @lets.talk.chocolate

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3 months ago

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3 months ago

Ryan was in northern Michigan for work, and before coming home he stopped in at @crowandmosschocolate ! This year they opened up their shop serving pastries on the weekends, so I asked him to bring me a brownie, and one other pastry…

He came home with 8 baked goods & the gingersnap chocolate bar (a fave!)!! 😅 He gets me. 💗

To Crow & Moss — continually impressed by your creativity and intentionality in all that you make!! 👏🍫

#latestalkchocolate #michiganmade #nomi by @lets.talk.chocolate

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4 months ago

🍓 @harvestcraftchocolate strawberry rhubarb creamsicle oat white chocolate bar

This bar was quite tasty.

The tart, bright rhubarb pulls a lot of weight — it’s really what makes this bar taste like a creamsicle. That being said, the strawberry was difficult to find apart from an aroma and aftertaste.

Let it melt on your tongue for a pleasant experience, as we found this allows the flavors to blend most effectively.

If you don’t expect too much from the strawberry, you will really enjoy this bar!

Note: It sounds like some of these bars use a different recipe, but we tried one without vanilla and orange, and this was our experience.

#letstalkchocolate #michiganmade #michigansummer by @lets.talk.chocolate

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4 months ago

We have found the chocolate of our dreams! We’re not sure when it will be available again, but keep an eye out for this one. It very quickly made our top picks list!

Dustin from Chocolat Inn & Cafe has once again made a delightful bar with cacao from Kemu Farms, Liberia. It’s our understanding that this is the first chocolate to be made with their cacao, and what a delicious bar it is.

If you are in the mood for any of your favorite chocolate treats, just that classic cocoa flavor with a rich silky texture… This is the chocolate for you! It’s not exceptionally fruity or bitter or sweet, but that’s what makes it so enjoyable. An elevated treat that you don’t have to think too hard about in order to enjoy it, and some days, that’s just what you need.

#letstalkchocolate #chocolatereview #ethicalchocolate by @lets.talk.chocolate

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5 months ago

Perfect treat on this snowy day ❄️

Warm and sweet, this ginger snap bar brings back all the cozy vibes from the holidays. It captures the flavors of gingerbread exactly as I like them - strong & full.

I’ll be enjoying this one today next to the fireplace, watching the snow fall outside my window. ⛄️

Crow & Moss nailed this bar, and it’s absolutely a top pick for me. 🌟

-Jillian by @lets.talk.chocolate

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8 months ago

We are so grateful for the kindness of makers who have so generously gifted us chocolate over the years. 🤗

We recently received this package from @ausermanchocolate - such beautiful packaging & interesting flavors!

🍫 As we try these out, we will share our thoughts with you either in our stories or on our feed. Stay tuned!

#letstalkchocolate #craftchocolate by @lets.talk.chocolate

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8 months ago

Some chocolate we’ve finished in the last couple of months.

All of them special and delightful in their own ways!

What chocolate have you finished recently?

#letstalkchocolate by @lets.talk.chocolate

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9 months ago

Midwest Craft Chocolate Festival 2026

While the chocolate is amazing (seriously amazing) the thing that made this event the most special to me was the people.

Every maker, volunteer, & (from what I could tell) attendee was open, warm, & friendly. Beyond that, excited about celebrating & engaging with people from different cultures, experiences, & languages spoken.

This chocolate festival brought people together & built each other up. There was no competition in the room. There was care, encouragement, joy & genuine love for each other & community.

I feel blessed to have been a part of it, even in a small way, & left feeling inspired.

🍫 Barb @chocochaser & Dustin @chocolat_inn - thank you for staying true to your vision and bringing us all together.
🍫 Liang @kesshocacao - the most beautiful soul! It was inspiring to hear your story & how you believe chocolate can bring people together.
🍫 Fanja @eka_chocolate_madagascar - your joy exudes out of you, even after such a long, tumultuous journey! It was an honor to help at your booth!
🍫 Connor @chocolate_thunder_official & Kjell @fjordensjokolade - truly showed how makers support each other & have fun doing it.
🍫 Andal @cocoa_town - so sweet, so knowledgeable! It was a gift to learn more from you.
🍫 Karla & Jose @heirloomcacao @chocoinstitute - powerhouses. Gentle, kind & generous. Thank you for the conversations & work you do!
🍫 Tomomi @sweetsescalier - I still can’t believe I got to meet you! All the way from Japan to share his incredible chocolate, origami, and kindness.
🍫 Nettie @smallbatcheducation - secretly fan-girlies when I met you! Your energy, knowledge and passion makes such waves!
🍫 Karla @openingchocolate - I had the best time in your palate to palette tasting—mixing two hobbies I love: chocolate & watercolor. Thank you for the care and attention you put into all that you do! Such a joy to connect with you!
🍫 Jenny @yellowbirdchocolateshop - so glad we could meet, & we look forward to coming to your shop soon!

💗 I’m out of space, but could continue listing people! If you didn’t attend, be sure to next year. You won’t regret it!! 💗 @midwestcraftchocolatefestival taken in Love Community Center by @lets.talk.chocolate

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10 months ago

So much JOY in the chocolate making process! 🍫

At the @midwestcraftchocolatefestival , @jillianrcampbell & her husband @ryantcampbell volunteered in various ways — which was so much fun!

Ryan spent most of his time helping out Bhavani from @chocolate_melangers — they had a winnowing machine and a melanger for people to see how part of the chocolate process goes.

Ryan had a blast, and clearly Jillian did too!

Might be adding a small home melanger to our Christmas list. 🎁 😉

#midwestcraftchocolatefestival #craftchocolate #letstalkchocolate by @lets.talk.chocolate

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10 months ago

The @midwestcraftchocolatefestival is in just 2 weeks!

I look forward to meeting chocolate makers from around the world, volunteering, and attending some of these sessions! The lineup is amazing!

We hope to see you there!

#midwestchocolatefestival #chocolatefestival by @lets.talk.chocolate

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a year ago