Monday, October 31, 2016

Shop Local - Sappho Chocolates

In recent years, quality chocolate has occupied a growing niche in the market. Meanwhile, there are so many artisan brands of chocolate that it can make your head spin to research them. Chocolate is now treated with the same discernment as say wine, attributing all manner of flavor characteristics to various types of chocolate: floral, citrussy, deep berry, etc. These nuances come, of course, from the quality and purity of ingredients as well as the process through which the chocolate is created. 



It goes without saying that a great chocolate engages all the senses. It should look inviting, smell glorious, make an alluring sound when we snap it or bite into it, and feel luscious in the mouth. Very good chocolate is also going to cost more – a lot more – than for instance a Hershey bar. 


To make a great chocolate you must take the time to do every step of the process correctly, right from the very beginning. Not only must the chocolate maker select great cocoa beans, but they must work with farmers who ensure that the beans are optimally fermented and dried. Once this is achieved, the cocoa beans must be cleaned, roasted, winnowed, ground, blended, and refined with the highest quality ingredients. All this takes time and attention to detail coupled with a commitment to do what's best for the chocolate every step of the way.


In comes Sappho Chocolates! Right here in our Daytona Beach area, we have a chocolatier who takes chocolate making very seriously. Kathryn Neel, who studied at Ecole Chocolat, and her partners Charlotte Lambert and Darlene Duncan are committed to producing the best tasting and purest fine chocolates available to the public while following the most socially and ecologically responsible sourcing of our chocolate products.


The results are simply stunning. Their beautiful truffles come in incredibly delicious flavors, including Kona coffee, vanilla, caramel, vanilla, Earl Grey (!), and Chambord. However, Sappho Chocolates is always researching and experimenting with new flavor combinations and ideas. Their chocolates contain only the very highest quality ingredients, no fillers, no artificial flavors, nothing but the best – and you can taste it!




Moreover, Sappho Chocolates procures their cocoa beans from growers who do not use child labor and child slavery.  Certified Fair Trade chocolate growers can assure that these chocolates were not made on the backs of little children. Something also to consider when you buy those M&Ms, Twix, Snickers, etc. One of the reasons those type of chocolate products are so affordable is that large corporations get their beans at extremely low prices – beans that were grown with slave labor.


A fun facet of Sappho Chocolates products is their sci-fi shaped confections! You can get a chocolate Dalek (Dr. Who – for you non-geeks), D&D 20-sided dice and swords, as well as Star Trek and Firefly items. Moreover, with 3-D printing, Sappho Chocolates can make a mold for their exquisite chocolate out of just about anything. Planning a big party and want an impressive center piece? Get it made from chocolate and beautifully airbrushed with colored cocoa butter! Then serve it to your guests for dessert! 


Sappho Chocolates is already making a big splash in the Central Florida Area – most recently with their presence at Orlando’s Makers Faire. With their new kitchen now open, they are ready to explore different possibilities and expand their market.

Look them up! Indulge yourself and get some chocolate! With local pickup and delivery you don't even have shipping costs! Sappho's Facebook page