If you live in a small town like I do, you may have a hard time gathering a large selection of craft chocolate from a wide range of makers. However, with a little curiosity, you may be surprised at the number of bean-to-bar chocolates you’ll be able to find close to your home. For instance, did you know that many independant natural stores carried lesser known chocolate brands right in the candy aisle? Your local coffee shop may also offer a nice selection of bars right by the register, make sure to check it out.
To me, the quest for craft chocolate is part of the fun: I love the thrill I get from finding a bar I had spotted months earlier on Instagram (I am looking at you, Askinosie’s licorice bar.) I have now been looking for bean-to-bar chocolate locally for over a year now and, while I still have a lot more places to explore, here a list of my favorite craft chocolate purveyors in the Chester County & Philadelphia areas. A word of caution: this is a non-exhaustive, kind-of-subjective list, which I will update as I go. In the meantime, I’d love to know where you shop for chocolate, both in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Leave a comment to let me know!
Carlino’s – both Ardmore and West Chester locations, PA
- Ritual Chocolate (their 75% Balao bar and 60% Novo coffee bars are excellent).
Gryphon Coffee – Wayne, PA
Lolli and Pops – King of Prussia Mall
Malvern Buttery – Malvern, PA
Philter Coffee – Kennett Square, PA
- Dick Taylor Chocolate
- Nathan Miller Chocolate
- Parliament Chocolate
- Twenty-Four Blackbirds
- Woodblock Chocolate
The West Chester Ice Cream & Coffee Bar – West Chester, PA
Kimberton Whole Foods – Multiple locations
Martindale’s Natural Market – Springfield, PA
- Pacari Chocolate (I even found the 100% bar!)
Whole Foods Markets – Multiple locations
Sazon Restaurant – Philadelphia, PA
Shane Confectionary – Philadelphia, PA
- Selection varies. I found Askinosie’s dark milk chocolate bar with licorice during my last visit.
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