Chocolate Monkey

You know it's good if I'm eating my own inventory….

Last week I had the priviledge of leading a virtual chocolate tasting for a corporate client for the FOURTH time (and I am beyond grateful 🙏).
Each tasting has featured different 🍫 and the most recent featured these Pecan Paradise "mini" bars from -toasted pecans in vanilla nougat topped with their amazing salted caramel covered in chocolate that tastes like… chocolate

I like to refer to Mayana as adult candy bars but this is NOT candy- it's real ingredients (ethically sourced of course), real flavor and delicious.

A satisfying indulgence that I now need to restock 🤣

One of my favorite things about craft chocolate is exploring the cuisines of different cultures through the inclusions in their chocolate. The first time this really clicked for me was when I tried (and loved!) a chocolate bar with cupuacu

If you're in the US as I am you might be wondering- what the heck is cupuacu 🤔 It is a large fruit native to Central and South America (but specifically from Brazil) and a relative of cacao (what chocolate is made of). The fruit tastes like pineapple, pear, banana, passion fruit, and/or melon and it isn't something most of us in the US have ever heard of much less tasted- and we are missing out 😲

I am offering TWO chances to taste this delicious tropical fruit this month

for my locals- I'll be pairing these Luisa Abram Cupuacu Dragees with a peach brandy on Saturday the 14th, tickets are still available and this would make a great outing (couples, friends and solo tasters welcome!)

and the upcoming virtual guided tasting "Interesting Inclusions in Chocolate XI: Theobroma, Chocolate’s Family Tree" on Friday, Feb 20th includes three cupuacu chocolate samples along with samples from cacao's other cousin- jaguar cacao- and several samples of chocolate with cacao fruit

If you're curious I would love to have you join us- details on my website- click the link in bio/comments

The ice and snow storms 🧊 ❄️ over the last two weeks have played havoc with everyone's schedules here in North Carolina

but thankfully (and by just a few degrees 😲) we were still able to present the Wine and Chocolate Pairing 🎉 Everyone loved the oranges and cherries so much they bought me out 😍 which was completely unexpected! but in hindsight not suprising….

The dark chocolate coated candied oranges paired perfectly with the citrus notes in the Chardonnay and the dark chocolated coated Montmorency cherries paired divinely with the Cinsault ❤️ I highly recommend both of these chocolates for pairing- and they will both be featured again THIS Saturday paired with brandy in Monroe, a completely different experience but equally delicious

If you are looking for something memorable to do for ***Valentine's Day*** this event would be ideal (details in bio link/comments)

Best of the Northwest Chocolate Tasting Kit were shipped out today and *there are no words* for how amazing this bar smelled when I opened this gorgeous packaging- as in, I stopped working just to be present in that moment and inhale 😊

Now *this particular bar* was not a winner this year- I don't believe it was even entered as he only brought a few of them- but Foundry chocolate won an award last year with it's Tanzania 70% 🍫 - I bought that bar, along with several others, and really enjoyed them so this year I did not miss the opportunity to buy such a special bar (and a few others as well of course).

Made with a unique almendra blanca “Carmelo” cacao from Finca Frida, Soconusco, Mexico this bar is an exceptionally rare and truly remarkable experience. 

If YOU would like to savor a moment with a sample join us for the tasting next Saturday, Jan 31st. We'll taste and chat about this bar, 8 award winners and a deer milk bar also from New Zealand.

A few tickets are still available via the link in bio/comments!

One of the things I love about craft chocolate is there is always something new to explore. Even after all these years there is always a fresh flavor, a new twist on a classic or a different technique showing the creativity of the 🍫 makers.

And you don’t need to taste everything- I certainly tried and failed 🤣 , but tasting just one new flavor can be enough to keep your journey exciting.

I've curated a live virtual Zoom 🍫 tasting each month for 2026- I've brought in a few new themes as well as bringing back beloved favorites. They are Friday or Saturday evenings beginning at 730pm EST with 10-12 samples each.

Saturday, January 31 Interesting Inclusions in Chocolate X: The Best of Northwest

Friday, February 20  Interesting Inclusions in Chocolate XI: Theobroma, Chocolate’s Family Tree

Friday, March 20 Sixth Annual Celebrating Women in Cacao: A Craft Chocolate Tasting

Saturday, April 18 The Sweet Side of Chocolate: Cacao and Conservation III

Saturday, May 2 Interesting Inclusions in Chocolate XII: Tasting Tea in Craft Chocolate

Friday, June 12 Spirited Chocolate: Infused Craft Chocolate III

For more info or to register see the link in bio/comments

Here is to a year that feels inspiring, joyful and tastes amazing!

🎉✨ Today officially kicks off virtual corporate holiday party season! When I started this business, my mission was simple: share the flavors and stories of craft chocolate with people. These events give me the perfect opportunity to do exactly that.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be tasting and teaching daily and it's a joy to connect with so many new faces.

I started off with an amazing group today- they showed up not only on camera 😂 but also came with interest and curiosity. I couldn’t be more grateful. 🍫💛

P.S. Today also starts the advent calendar… who else is enjoying the Pump Street Cinnamon Bun?! 😍🙌

Last chance on 2025 Advent Calendars 🎄

This huge box contains delicious confections, single origin dark chocolate 🍫 , plenty of holiday inclusion bars and three very different drinking chocolate mixes.

There are several boxes available but I'll close orders after I ship on Monday to focus on my corporate clients for the month of December.

I can't wait to start enjoying mine! (PS- I already started 😂)

It all fit! 🎉

The Limited Edition 2025 Advent Calendar is officially here — our biggest, best, and yes… our final edition.

After six years and more than 150 unique chocolate bars, this beloved tradition is coming to a close.

Inside this finale edition, you’ll find:

✨ A delicious treat for every day starting December 1

✨ A special “open upon arrival” surprise (because who wants to wait to enjoy chocolate?)

✨ A unique drinking chocolate blend for every Sunday, which I’ll be discussing live on Zoom (more details coming later)

✨ And a bonus full-size bag of pure amazingness to open on Christmas Day (it's so good I've already finished my bag 🤣)

Shipping begins tomorrow. If you’d like to secure one of the final calendars, you can find all the details in the link in the bio.

A heartfelt THANK YOU for your support over the last five years to everyone who has participated and to those of you who pre-ordered this year ❤️

Can you guess why I bought this chocolate bar?

Yep… the monkey on the wrapper. I’m predictable like that — if there’s a monkey on it, I’m buying it. 🐒🍫

What did surprise me, though, was how beautifully this bar paired with all the wines we opened during last Sunday’s Zoom tasting. This 70% dark chocolate, made with beans from Maragrito Mendoze in Ostuacán, Chiapas, Mexico, was absolutely perfect with the port I was drinking. Hands-down my favorite pairing of the night — and I’ll definitely be stocking up!

Huge thank-you to everyone who joined the pairing + mystery tasting and made it such a fun night! ❤️✨

What do all these chocolate bars have in common? (Besides being crafted by some amazing makers!) 🤔

They’re just a few of the mystery samples featured in my corporate tastings this week 🍫

If that sounds like your kind of fun, join me for a Virtual Mystery Chocolate Tasting on Sunday, November 9th — if you dare! 👀

🧩 You’ll receive a *different* set of mystery chocolate samples shipped right to your door
🍷 We’ll kick things off by pairing a few samples with red wine (or your favorite beverage)
🍸 Then we’ll wrap up by creating a delicious vegan cocktail/ mocktail together

Ready to taste, guess, and sip along?
Tap the link in bio for details and to reserve your tasting kit!

Three events to close out 2025 are now up!

#1 Fall Wine and Chocolate Pairing/ Mystery Chocolate Tasting III 🎃
Sunday Nov 9th 7pm
My favorite three-in-one event we will pair different craft chocolates, guess the flavors of even more samples and then end with a (Vegan!) Cocoa Praline cocktail/mocktail 🍸

#2 The 2025 Advent Calendar is now available for pre-order 🎁
26 amazing chocolate samples from around the world in a gorgeous gift box- I only create a few each year and these will sell out fast!

and #3- **new this year** is a Sunday Morning Drinking Chocolate Zoom Meetup
Part 1 is included in the advent calendar but you may also purchase it separately and/or add on Part 2 in January

Thank you for your patience everyone 🙏 and can't wait to "see" you soon 😻
(As always, link for more info and to purchase is in bio)