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Published November 6, 2018

Why fine chocolate ISN’T like fine wine, specialty coffee or craft beer

With the rise of bean to bar chocolate makers in the U.S. in the past decade, many have begun to consider where the industry will go in the future. The explosion of other segments of the “specialty” food industry, namely coffee and craft beer, and the continued popularity of wine…

Read More Why fine chocolate ISN’T like fine wine, specialty coffee or craft beer

business chocolate maker Chocolatier Fine chocolate marketing

Moving my chocolate business to a retail location: Tips from an EC grad
Published October 25, 2018

Moving my chocolate business to a retail location: Tips from an EC grad

For many chocolate business owners, taking the leap to move their business into a retail location is a huge decision. One of our Ecole Chocolat graduates, Brooke Willis from B Cocoa Artisan Chocolate, has just celebrated the first anniversary of her chocolate business out of her home and  to a…

Read More Moving my chocolate business to a retail location: Tips from an EC grad

B Cocoa Artisan Chocolate business chocolate business Chocolatier EC grad mompreneur

For Mother’s Day, the connection between chocolate making and motherhood
Published May 13, 2018

For Mother’s Day, the connection between chocolate making and motherhood

In honor of Mother’s Day, I thought it would be fun to write a post with a slightly different twist. What is that twist you ask? Well, the more I thought about Mother’s Day, the more I realized there are many ways that working with chocolate is similar to being…

Read More For Mother’s Day, the connection between chocolate making and motherhood

holidays Mothers Day

Easter Chocolate 2018 – What are you hoping for in your basket?
Published March 27, 2018

Easter Chocolate 2018 – What are you hoping for in your basket?

Eggs and bunnies reign supreme, but with a twist Easter is early this year, we can’t believe it’s this weekend! You may still be hunting for fine Easter chocolate to give to your friends and family. This is the perfect year to expand your chocolate horizons beyond your local grocery…

Read More Easter Chocolate 2018 – What are you hoping for in your basket?

a519 Chocolate Bakedown Cakery Cacao Prieto cochu chocolate colleen heidecker chocolates Dick Taylor Chocolate Easter ex voto chocolate holidays liv a lil chocolate The Chocolate Lab Valenza Chocolatier

Published January 30, 2018

Chocolate and Cannabis

Beyond pot brownies – elevating fine chocolate edibles with Woodblock Chocolate Weed. Pot. Ganja. Pakalolo. Marijuana. Cannabis. Whatever word you use, we all know what we are talking about.  Perhaps now more than ever, we are on a precipice when it comes to the use of cannabis, particularly in North…

Read More Chocolate and Cannabis

bean to bar chocolate cannabis edibles Woodblock Chocolate

Holiday Chocolate 2017
Published December 14, 2017

Holiday Chocolate 2017

It wouldn’t be the holiday season without chocolate! From big festive parties, to small family gatherings, or maybe just enjoying a quiet moment with someone you love, chocolate is a great addition to your holiday season. Each year, we love to share some of the fun and creative holiday products…

Read More Holiday Chocolate 2017

Askinosie Chocolate books Cacao Prieto Chocolate Noise Christmas Creo Chocolate Dandelion Chocolate Harper Macaw holidays liv a lil chocolate Megan Giller Moonstruck Chocolate Norman Love Confections Soma Chocolate

Costa Rica loses a major source of organic cacao
Published September 21, 2017

Costa Rica loses a major source of organic cacao

Cacao farmers face economic realities that can lead to tough decisions – including selling their farms   When you think of Costa Rica, you may not think of cacao or chocolate – for many people, Costa Rica brings up memories of sun-filled beach vacations or time spent exploring tropical jungles. …

Read More Costa Rica loses a major source of organic cacao

bean to bar cacao Costa Rica farmer Sibu Chocolate

Published May 18, 2017

Chocolatier versus Chocolate maker – what’s the difference?

Wait, isn’t anyone who makes any type of chocolate a “chocolate maker”? If you read almost any article published by a mainstream news media outlet, the terms chocolatier and chocolate maker are thrown around pretty loosely. This probably leaves people confused – isn’t everyone who makes chocolate of any kind a…

Read More Chocolatier versus Chocolate maker – what’s the difference?

bean to bar chocolate chocolate maker Chocolatier

Easter Chocolate 2017 – Eggs, bunnies & chicks, oh my!
Published April 10, 2017

Easter Chocolate 2017 – Eggs, bunnies & chicks, oh my!

It’s hard to believe that Easter is this weekend, it seems like this year is flying by! You may still be hunting for fine Easter chocolate to give to your friends and family. Want some tips about what to look for when you’re shopping? This is the perfect year to…

Read More Easter Chocolate 2017 – Eggs, bunnies & chicks, oh my!

Beta5 Chocolates Charm School Chocolate Chez Christophe Chocolate Arts David Chow Easter Fruition Chocolate holidays L.A. Burdick Chocolates Roselen Chocolatier Soma Chocolatemaker Stick with Me Sweets The Chocolate Lab

Shipping Chocolate: The Story of Carl the Snowman
Published February 23, 2017

Shipping Chocolate: The Story of Carl the Snowman

Kate Weiser shares the story of tackling packaging & shipping for a very unique product! Talk to anyone in the chocolate business and they will tell you that shipping is a huge challenge. Chocolate is delicate, it can scuff, scratch or break. It is very sensitive to changes in temperature,…

Read More Shipping Chocolate: The Story of Carl the Snowman

Carl the Snowman chocolate hot chocolate Kate Weiser Chocolate packaging shipping

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  • As with love chocolate making is all in the details
    4 days ago by ecolechocolat As with love, chocolate making is all in the details Happy Valentine’s Day! Any day that celebrates love and chocolate is perfection to us, or even celebrating love OF chocolate Today let’s cherish all of the people that we love in our lives, and enjoy some amazing fine chocolate. . . .  #love   #allyouneedislove   #valentinesday   #happyvalentinesday   #chocolate   #finechocolate   #valentineschocolate   #hearts   #lovemore   #loveislove 
  • The perfect bar to enjoy with your love The raspberry
    5 days ago by ecolechocolat The perfect bar to enjoy with your love The raspberry white chocolate bar from  @cacao70  is full of beautiful raspberry flavour and the right balance of sweetness. . . .  #valentines   #valentinesday   #valentineschocolate   #chocolatemaker   #ecolechocolatgrad   #chocolatemaking   #whitechocolate   #raspberry   #raspberrychocolate   #bemine   #love 
  • As we get closer to the ultimate day to celebrate
    6 days ago by ecolechocolat As we get closer to the ultimate day to celebrate love and chocolate, we had to share this gorgeous, lacy design from  @littlesinschocolate  Do you have your chocolate yet? Your local chocolatier or chocolate maker has you covered!  #Repost  ・・・ Inspired by  @genscarfone   @seedconfections  , trying the lace technique on my hearts.  #valentinesday2019   #hearts   #chocolatehearts   #chocolatebar   #sweetheartchocolatebar   #littlesinschocolate   #chocolatier   #victoriabc   #yyj   #instagood   #instafood   #finechocolate   #chocolatier   #lace   #design   #valentine   #valentinesday 
  • Need a gift for your Valentine? Or want to treat
    1 week ago by ecolechocolat Need a gift for your Valentine? Or want to treat yourself? Our next Mastering Chocolate Flavor Program starts on Feb 22nd! This is our online chocolate tasting program that leads you through not just how to taste chocolate, but what you’re tasting and why! Whether you’re a chocolate newbie or an old pro, you’ll love this program. AND we give the most delicious homework ever ❤️❤️❤️ . . .  #valentine   #valentinesday   #valentinesgift   #bemine   #valentineschocolate   #finechocolate   #chocolatetasting   #chocolateschool 
  • When you want to give flowers AND chocolate to your
    2 weeks ago by ecolechocolat When you want to give flowers AND chocolate to your Valentine ❤️ How gorgeous is this design from our grad  @apapacho .chocolate? ❤️ . . .  #ecolechocolatgrad   #valentine   #valentineschocolate   #finechocolate   #roses 
  • Were excited to share a collaboration with Lesley Pocklington swellmadeco
    2 weeks ago by ecolechocolat We’re excited to share a collaboration with Lesley Pocklington  @swellmadeco , a fellow female entrepreneur, to create this special greeting card for all of those occasions that call for chocolate, including no occasion at all. ❤️ Available for purchase as a single card or wholesale via Lesley’s site (link in our profile), this is the perfect card to accompany your favourite fine chocolate when gifting to the ones you love. ❤️ Pssst! Any orders placed for the rest of February will also receive a free mini chocolate bar from  @kinpodchocolate . Now, that’s love! . . .  #thiscallsforchocolate   #chocolate   #chocolatelover   #swellmadeco   #ecolechocolat 
  • Many of you will recognize this face Rachel is the
    2 weeks ago by ecolechocolat Many of you will recognize this face. Rachel is the fabulous instructor & online tutor for our Professional Chocolatier Program & an invaluable member of the EC team. This month marks 10 YEARS since Rachel joined us, & that is something to celebrate! Thank you so much Rachel for your dedication to sharing your passion for fine chocolate with our students and grads.  #celebrate   #timeflieswhenyourehavingfun   #10years   #chocolateschool 
  • Happy Lunar New Year! How adorable are these guys? The
    2 weeks ago by ecolechocolat Happy Lunar New Year! How adorable are these guys? The cutest way to start off the year of the pig, from the talented team  @thaaschocolates   #Repost   @thaaschocolates  ・・・ Happy Lunar new year!  #happylunarnewyear   #chinesenewyear   #yearofthepig   #luck   #prosperity   #Vancouver   #yvrfoodie   #yvrchocolate 
  • Looking over our haul from thewinterchocolateshow in Toronto on Saturday
    2 weeks ago by ecolechocolat Looking over our haul from  @thewinterchocolateshow  in Toronto on Saturday and can’t wait to dive in!❤️ It’s so exciting to see the growth in fine chocolate in Canada Thank you to  @thecandybartoronto  &  @desbarreschocolates  for organizing such an amazing event! . . .  #finechocolate   #chocolatemaker   #chocolatemaking   #beantobar   #ohcanada 
  • Its February 1st  let the celebration of chocolate
    2 weeks ago by ecolechocolat It’s February 1st - let the celebration of chocolate & love (or love of chocolate ) begin! Speaking of love, we are loving these gorgeous hearts filled with bonbons from  #ecolechocolatgrad   @tandemchocolatespc   #Repost   @tandemchocolatespc  ・・・  #Handcrafted   #chocolate  heart filled with six  #bonbons . This is the only heart you should break this Valentine's Day.  #edibleart   #chocolateart   #chocolat   #parkcitylife   #parkcity   #historicparkcity   #cupid   #chefrubber   #lifeofachocolatier   #lovewhatIdo   #bemyvalentine   #tandemchocolates   #skitown   #mountainliving   #saltlakefoodies   #parkcityfoodie 
  • S W E E T S I X T E
    3 weeks ago by ecolechocolat S W E E T S I X T E E N We are so excited to be celebrating our 16th anniversary! It’s been an incredible journey since we launched our first online chocolate program 16 years ago. We’re proud to have played a part in educating some of the most talented chocolate professionals in the industry! A quick peek at  #ecolechocolatgrad  & you can see what an amazing group they are ❤️ We are so grateful for the connections we’ve made & we love watching our grads chase their dreams. To our students, graduates & colleagues, thank you so
  • Two very special bars just arrived from ecolechocolatgrad Rich dancinglionchocolate
    3 weeks ago by ecolechocolat Two very special bars just arrived from  #ecolechocolatgrad  Rich  @dancinglionchocolate  . Black Dragon, white Jade: Old Grove Shui Xian wulong tea and fresh pineapple dust in Guatemalan 40 % white chocolate. Unexpected Acquaintance: hand-massaged Japanese Persimmon cut paper thin and Golden Threads black tea in passion fruit fermented Brazilian dark chocolate.Rich is a flavor genius and I'm a very lucky gal to get a chance to taste these one of a kind bars!! . . .  #dancininglionchocolate   #finechocolate   #chocolatier   #chocolatebar   #flavor   #whitechocolate  #

Recent Posts

  • Why fine chocolate ISN’T like fine wine, specialty coffee or craft beer
  • Moving my chocolate business to a retail location: Tips from an EC grad
  • For Mother’s Day, the connection between chocolate making and motherhood
  • Easter Chocolate 2018 – What are you hoping for in your basket?
  • Chocolate and Cannabis

Recent Comments

  • Alysha Kropf on Why fine chocolate ISN’T like fine wine, specialty coffee or craft beer
  • Pashmina Lalchandani on Why fine chocolate ISN’T like fine wine, specialty coffee or craft beer
  • Alysha Kropf on Why fine chocolate ISN’T like fine wine, specialty coffee or craft beer
  • Sophia Rea on Why fine chocolate ISN’T like fine wine, specialty coffee or craft beer
  • Clarity Cannabis on Chocolate and Cannabis

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awards bean to bar bean to bar chocolate brand business butter cacao candy caramel chocolate chocolate industry chocolate maker Chocolate Noise Chocolatier Christmas confection confectionery confections dairy design DIY Easter EC grad entrepreneur farmer fats flavour ganache glucose holiday holidays infographic ingredients International Chocolate Awards Life and Times of Chocolate mompreneur recipe success story sucrose sugar sugars summer The Chocolate Lab use for sugar Valentines Day

Bean2bonbon – About the authors

Rachel McKinley

As a chocolatier, I love the blend of science and art that results from working with our fine chocolate medium. My days are filled with creating new products, experimenting in my chocolate lab, working with my clients and customers while a the same time instructing for Ecole Chocolat programs. I find great pleasure in helping people passionate about chocolate achieve their goals and fulfill their dreams. I have a degree in microbiology and a degree in English literature, so I have a creative side and a technical side, and [chocolatiering] really married those things for me quite beautifully.

Alysha Kropf

I spent several years in the not-for-profit sector with roles in communications, marketing and program management before joining Ecole Chocolat as the Program and Marketing Director. I leaped at a role where I could combine my love of writing with my love of chocolate! Still relatively new to the world of chocolate, I have jumped in with both feet and love learning more every day. When I’m not reading about chocolate, or writing about chocolate, or eating (sorry “tasting”) chocolate, I’m chasing after one or all of my three boys, ages nine, five and five.

bean2bonbon

Tales from our Chocolate Laboratory
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