Sending chocolate to someone as a gift can bear many meanings and reasons. It can be a kind and grateful thank you, a gentle whisper of appreciation or a loud proclamation of adoration. Regardless of the specific purpose or meaning, it is a worldwide appreciated gesture. These are some of the best South African chocolate brands to consider with your next chocolate gift.
Have we missed any of your favourite spots? Please let us know in the comments below or email [email protected]
AFRIKOA
Afrikoa is a Great Taste award-winning company that prides itself in growing and producing its chocolate on home soil.
Apart from the obvious deliciousness, Afrikoa is celebrated due to the fact that its chocolate-making process never leaves African soil. With an ethos of supporting local businesses, Afrikoa advances the art of making chocolate. As they use the rich resources and support local communities and their farms, they maintain a healthy and sustainable system for chocolate-making.
Afrikoa refrains from using any products such as gluten, soy, GMOs, palm oil or artificial flavourings or colourings. See here for more.
Where: Shop G11, Makers Landing, Cruise Terminal, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
When: Daily: 8am – 5pm
Website: afrikoa.com | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 021 551 1806
Facebook: @AfrikoaChocolate | Instagram: @afrikoachocolate
HONEST CHOCOLATE
This Capetonian chocolate company focuses on the artisanal touch when it comes to the process of the cocoa bean to bar. By keeping things old-school, they focus on handcrafted and traditional methods when using quality and organic ingredients to create pure chocolate deliciousness.
Read here for more on how their chocolate is sourced and made.
Their success has allowed them to branch out and create spaces for workshops where they teach people how to make chocolate and for their café where people can sit down and enjoy the taste of local chocolate, albeit a snack or beverage.
Where: 64A Wale St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town
When: Mon – Thu: 10am – 6pm | Fri: 10am – 9pm | Sat: 9am – 9pm | Sun: 9am – 5pm
Website: honestchocolate.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 076 765 8306
Facebook: @HonestChocolate | Instagram: @honestchocolate
COCOAFAIR
Cocoafair started its journey in 2009. Initially, they dipped their toes in the chocolate pool to test the waters but soon found themselves fully submerged with snorkel gear and all in the wonderful world of cocoa.
They source the cacao for their chocolates ethically by collecting it directly from a farm to ensure that the farmer doesn’t get the short end of the stick. Therefore the farmer gets a fair price for his harvest and the ingredients are sustainably grown.
With the vast range of chocolates on offer, Cocoafair can easily cater to the dietary requirements of its guests. Whether it’s the need for Dairy-Free, Sugar-Free, Vegan, Halal or Kosher, Cocoafair can accommodate with their bean-to-bar handcrafted chocolates.
Where: Unit 2, Montague Square, 28 Montague Drive, Montague Gardens, Cape Town
When: Mon – Fri: 8:3oam – 5pm
Website: cocoafair.com | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 021 551 0042
Facebook: @cocoafair | Instagram: @cocoafair
DE VILLIERS CHOCOLATE
The founder, Pieter, of the well-known and broadly loved product, De Villiers Chocolate, began his artisanal journey long before he found his love for cocoa. What started as bread-making to winemaking and eventually to chocolate-making was a domino effect initially trickled over by his love for local products at a farmer’s market.
With his ethos of supporting farmers and keeping things as local as possible, De Villiers sources raw materials sustainably from a farm in Western Uganda to create a unique chocolate experience.
What makes De Villiers Chocolate stand out from the rest isn’t the success or fact that the product is distributed all over South Africa. Rather it is because all the chocolate bars are certified by the Rainforest Alliance and the International Vegan Society.
Where: South, Southern Paarl, Paarl
When: Daily: 9am – 5pm
Website: devillierschocolate.com | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 067 805 4515
Facebook: @devillierschocolate | Instagram: @dvchocolate
HIPPOLYTAS CHOCOLATE
Firstly, this interesting name derives from the Greek mythological character and Queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta. This aptly-named chocolate company was founded by such a character, Debbie Taylor.
Debbie found her knowledge and adoration for chocolate when she studied a course at a renowned chocolate workshop in Belgium. Since then, she’s been testing, sampling and refining her skills and flavours to create the ultimate quality chocolate.
Hippolytas Chocolate prides itself on their brand’s honesty, ethics and sustainable practices. Their chocolate is sourced from the Belgian brand, Callebaut. The reason they choose to work with this brand is that their product is completely traceable and sustainable.
See here for more of their experiences on offer.
Where: The Estuaries, 19 Oxbow Cres, Century City, Cape Town
When: Daily: 10am – 6pm
Website: hippolytas.com | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 076 877 2041
Facebook: @hippolytaschocolate | Instagram: @hippolytaschocolate
WINSTON AND JULIA
Winston and Julia Chocolate is an authentically South African chocolate shop with a passion for all things natural. So much so that, all these decadent chocolates are uniquely packed in South African-designed boxes inspired by fauna and flora to replicate nature and also stamp their products as proudly local.
The shop takes its name from the characters in George Orwell’s novel “1984,” who share a forbidden love and a passion for chocolate. Binding the concept of balance and decadence, Winston And Julia Chocolates gives us the chance to enjoy the sweet side of life without feeling greedy, as they craft good quality mini-bite confections.
With classic milk and dark chocolate ranging in flavours from lavender, chilli, toffee and honeycomb, to their banting range of cocoa nibs in 80% sugar-free chocolate, the shop caters to a wide audience from anyone with a sweet tooth or simply an appreciation for literature and art.
Where: Restaurant at Stellenbosch Vineyards, R310 Baden Powell Dr, Lynedoch, Stellenbosch
When: Wed – Sat: 9am – 4pm | Sun: 10am – 2pm
Website: winstonandjulia.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 021 880 0966
Facebook: @winstonandjulia | Instagram: @winstonandjulia
VON GEUSAU CHOCOLATES
Famously loved for their handcrafted Belgian Chocolates, Von Geusau Chocolate has been caressing our tastebuds for over 15 years.
With the high volume of cocoa content and spicy and aromatic ingredients, Von Geusau chocolates are handmade with precision and care whilst refraining from using artificial flavours or vegetable fats. It’s because of these flavour combinations that Waterford Wines prefer to use Von Geusau Chocolates for their world-class wine pairings.
Due to Von Geusau’s wide range of flavours, it is clear why they remain one of the best South African chocolate brands.
Where: 19 Main Rd, Greyton
When: Mon – Fri: 10am – 2pm | Sat: 10am – 3pm | Sun: 10am – 1pm
Website: vgchocolate.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 028 254 9100
Facebook: @VonGeusauChocolates | Instagram: @vongeusauchocolates
CHOCOLATES BY TOMES
What began as a small chocolate journey in 2005, currently exists as a large-scale, level 4 BBBEE company and one of the best South African chocolate brands. As much as they focus on the chocolate they craft, Chocolate by Tomes also pays the same amount of focus and time to the people they employ.
Chocolate By Tomes sources their cocoa ingredients solely from Africa and the sugar from South Africa, with a primary target of lessening the sugar and raising the cocoa percentage for that extra delicious flavour we crave.
As they continue their endeavour for perfection in their chocolate, Chocolate By Tomes refuses to rest on their past on continuously push forward with innovation, uniqueness and passion at heart.
Where: Shop 6198, Victoria Wharf Shopping Cntr, Breakwater Blvd, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
When: Daily: 9:30am – 8:30pm
Website: chocolatesbytomes.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 021 425 2237
Facebook: @chocolatesbytomes | Instagram: @chocolatesbytomes
