You don’t have to go to Switzerland to get the best chocolate fix. There are around 30 master chocolatiers in South Africa. Here are six places to eat chocolate and explore these heavenly flavours.
1. Chocoloza, Joburg
Address: 44 Stanley Avenue, Johannesburg
Contact: Tel 0109004892, www.chocoloza.co.za.
The purest and most local ingredients are used to make Chocoloza Chocolate. Image by Chocoloza.
Opened recently at 44 Stanley in Joburg, this cosy lounge is for eating and drinking chocolate, and seeing it being made. Vicki Bain focuses on bite-size pralines, about 30 to choose from, in delectable flavours such as lime and basil, fresh mint and Ethiopian coffee. These fillings are all locally sourced and organic, such as macadamias from the KZN coast, raspberries from a farm just outside Joburg and single-origin Madagascan chocolate. There’s no palm oil used, no artificial flavours and not much sugar. ‘It’s better for you and you really get the taste of the fresh ingredients,’ says Vicki. Chocoloza also serves seven hot chocolates (choc chips whisked into hot milk), including single-origin varieties, and cocoa tea: ‘We infuse crushed and roasted cocoa beans in hot water to make a beautiful, almost savoury drink.’
2. Honest Chocolate, Cape Town
Address: 64A Wale Street, Cape Town
Contact: Tel 0767658306, www.honestchocolate.co.za.
Artisanal chocolate in Cape Town, made by Honest Chocolate. Image by Honest Chocolate.
Honest Chocolate is known for its raw cacao slabs, has been experimenting with fermented Tanzanian beans, and is looking into offering chocolate oats, chocolate samoosas and churros at its cafe in Wale Street. The chocolate cheesecake is already a hit.
3.Von Geusau Handmade Belgian Chocolates, Greyton
Address: Oak and Vigne Cafe, DS Botha Road, Greyton
Contact: Tel 0282549100, vgchocolate.co.za.
Chocolate delights made from Belgian chocolate. Image from Grey Tourism.
Richard von Geusau does around 30 fine flavours – the latest being tonka bean bars, ‘an exotic taste, best described as vanilla/almond/frankincense’.
4. Ooh La La Confectionery, Joburg
Address: Abbotsford, Johannesburg
Contact: Tel 0117284282.
Oh La La Confectionery have gold awards from the Great Taste Awards in the United Kingdom. Image by Karen Schneid.
Karen Schneid in Joburg is obsessed with Japanese green matcha tea, and is making chocolates with it as well as matcha lattes. She makes other flavours too, including a new 70 percent dark chocolate with crushed Madagascan vanilla bean and fleur de sel.
5. Chocolats Marionnettes – Knysna
Address: 16 Jonker Street, Knysna
Contact: Tel 0443827502, www.oohlalaconfectionery.com.
The Chocolats Marionnette factory is based in Knynsa. Image from Chocolats Marionnettes.
Chocolats Marionnettes has a new treat: a Belgian chocolate fondue (R250 for two) spread out on an oriental carpet in the forest, with peacocks for company, or indoors beside the fire in their Venetian mask studio.
6. GaBoLi Chocolates– Betty’s Bay
Address: 2037 Delport Road, Betty’s Bay
Contact: Tel 0823941016, www.gaboli.co.za.
GaBoLi Chocolates has an array of flavours from Amarula, chilli, vanilla, hazelnut and so much more. Image by GaBoLi Chocolates.
Gaspard Bossut makes chocolates at his home in Betty’s Bay in a dazzling array of flavours – from Namibian Urbock beer or limoncello to blue cheese and biltong, fynbos or dates. In winter, his speciality is crystallised oranges enrobed in 70 per cent dark chocolate – ‘a taste sensation made in heaven!’
Have you eaten at any of the places mentioned? Comment below and let us know.
This story originally appeared in the July 2017 issue of Getaway magazine.
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