Fine Vermont Chocolate  

What do you think of when you think of fine Vermont chocolate? Do you think of a gift box of gourmet chocolate truffles for someone special? Do you visualize luxurious, dark chocolate – you know the expensive, premium chocolate like gourmet Belgian chocolate as a treat for yourself? Both are Vermont chocolate.

But Vermont chocolate also includes exotic types of chocolate such as Barcelona Creole, Aztec truffle collections, lunar chocolate club, cognac Black Forest fudge, or a chocolate pomegranate truffle and so much more. Of course, Vermont chocolate makers still make their old fashioned maple brittles, English toffee, and caramel chocolate bars as well.

So what then is fine Vermont chocolate and why is it so special?

Peter P. Greweling, who with The Culinary Institute of America, co-authored "Chocolates & Confections" (Wiley, 2007), says of Vermont chocolate makers, "poised for a renaissance in their status and in public awareness, and for a revival in the use of traditional techniques to produce world class (chocolate) products." Vermont chocolatiers have started a revolution in chocolate making – a renaissance of making fine chocolate and they intend to use as much of their own sweet Vermont ingredients in the process.

These chocolate artisans use local Vermont maple syrup, cream, honey, sweet butter, fruits and nuts. Vermont chocolatiers create chocolate confections in the artisan tradition with fresh ingredients, simple recipes, and perfectly roasted cacao beans, refined to make smooth, fine chocolates. They also frequently craft their chocolate creations in small batches just before delivery to make sure their chocolate is fresh. Handmade Vermont chocolates especially those with their dark chocolate bark and high cacao content are considered some of the best chocolate made in the United States.

As their reputation grows, Vermont chocolate makers now ship their chocolate creations nationwide. For those concerned about diabetic issues, and those South Beach diet followers Vermont chocolate makers even make sugar free chocolates. They also make dark dairy free and vegan chocolate too. And some local chocolate makers make a white chocolate bark, flavored with lemon, lavender and almonds so delicious that it surprises those folks who thought they didn’t like white chocolate.

Lake Champlain Chocolate is one of the better known Vermont chocolatiers. And like the other Vermont chocolatiers, they make scores of chocolate products, and has recently introduced a line of organic chocolates, and single-source chocolates from Tanzania, Granada, and Sao Thome, Brazil. Vermont chocolate has come of age and is indeed fine chocolate.  And yes they even make chocolate covered potato chips in Vermont.