January 2024 | Issue No. 44

Welcome to 2024! As you may know, one of my favorite things is spending time in the kitchen making handmade confections. It has become an annual holiday tradition that I look forward to gifting to friends & family. In honor of this favorite hobby of mine I wanted to keep the sweetness going into the new year by highlighting some of our local New Mexican craft chocolate makers. We are fortunate to have some incredibly talented artisans producing high quality, award-winning chocolates across the state. If you're thinking ahead to Valentine's Day, this might be a good place to start planning. 

 

Stepping into Chocolate Dude turns everyone into a kid in a candy store. Their chocolate items, made in-house in their Nob Hill location are fair trade, non-GMO, soy free, peanut free & gluten free. Their dark chocolate is naturally vegan. You will find an array of indulgences to satisfy anyone with a sweet tooth. Each of their truffles is hand scooped & rolled, every caramel is hand cut & dipped. For Valentine's Day, you'll find swoon-worthy bouquets & special offerings to show all of your favorite people just how much you care.  Be sure to keep reading….there's another exclusive offer from Chocolate Dude at the end of the newsletter!

The Chocolatesmith is an independent, locally owned & operated chocolate boutique & gift shop located in Santa Fe. They use a high quality bittersweet blend of dark chocolate alongside New Mexico grown organic pecans, green chile & red chile pistachios. Their approach to artisanal craft chocolates is to utilize premium ingredients to hand-make delectable treats that are perfect for any occasion or palate.  If you've been searching for a one-stop gift spot, look no further. In addition to their culinary delights, you'll find a heart-led & handpicked assortment of gifts & cards from local artisans & small businesses. 

Chocolate Cartel has a simple philosophy, “the best chocolate made by people, not machines; in a kitchen, not a factory.” Their approach to chocolate-making involves using quality ingredients to produce delectable treats that satisfy any craving. In addition to confections, they also offer seasonal indulgences like hot chocolate & even handcrafted gelato & sorbet during the hot months. Each year, in honor of Valentine's Day, they have special products exclusively available on February 13th & 14th. These offerings include chocolate-dipped strawberries (available in ½ dozen or dozen), their famous berry boats with fresh raspberries & blueberries & a selection of confections in a heart-shaped boxes-perfect for gifting. These are exclusively available for pre-order or in store pickup for two days only, so make sure you plan now!

My dear friend Cass turned me onto this amazing spot many years ago. Tucked in a quaint neighborhood, it's always a favorite stop when I'm visiting Santa Fe. Regarded as one of the most original chocolate shops in the world, they specialize in creating confections from fresh, seasonal high quality ingredients. They work in small batches to ensure the highest standards are met in all of their distinct creations, support local organic farming & experiment with bold flavor combinations. You will find truffles, drinking chocolate elixirs, agave caramels, solid dark chocolates & homemade ice cream in flavors such as pomegranate, cherry-chili, prickly pear, mescal & goat cheese & sage. They even offer some dairy-free & vegan options. 

Located in Gypsy Plaza in the historic coal mining village of Madrid, Shugarman's Little Shop is a delightful place to find handcrafted chocolate treats. With a bit more rustic approach to the craft, the vision of the chocolate makers fits this artistic community seamlessly. They offer most of their creative flavor combinations in milk, white & dark chocolate. Their dark chocolate selections are organic, fair trade, vegan & gluten free. They are considered one of the best handcrafted chocolate shops by locals & visitors alike. If you haven't visited Madrid, it's a great day trip to browse the many galleries, shops & taverns & be sure to stop in Shugarman's to sample one (or many) of their delightful offerings.

The cornerstone of small batch chocolate-maker Metal Fingers Chocolate is their use of sustainable and ethical ingredients. This micro-batch maker sells primarily at local establishments and pop-up events. But you're in for a treat if you catch them and experience their product. Past featured flavor profiles included Butter Pecan Cup (64% dark cup filled with salted pecan buttercream) and fan-favorite Sweet Potato Pie Cup (41% milk cup filled with yam ganache and a layer of spiced pecans, topped with a toasted marshmallow), both gluten-free. Their offerings generally include vegan and gluten-free options. Check their social media for future events.

Founded by Steve & Andrea Prickett, Eldora Chocolate has been an Albuquerque destination since 2018. They are considered both Chocolate Maker & Chocolatier, as they start with the bean to craft their coveted confections. Eldora's focus is honoring the earth by using real ingredients that are organic, natural & fair trade. They believe in offering a healthy & sustainable product that has won national awards & recognition. You can taste the passion & love that goes into their creations, so this is an excellent place to start if you're looking to gift your loved ones (or yourself)!

Award-winning Chokola is one of only roughly 800 bean to bar chocolatiers in the world. Their handcrafted chocolates & creations are considered an art form, as well as a continuation of ancient traditions from cacao farmers. They ethically source the highest quality beans to begin the process of creating small batch, distinctly inspired confections including single origin bars, beautiful chocolates, hot chocolate mix & even cacao shell tea. They firmly believe in marrying new technology with ancient knowledge & practices that honor the process as well as the end product.

But wait, there's more! Chocolate Dude is kind enough to allow us an exclusive coupon code “hometeam” that will give you 15% off any purchase in store or online. This is perfect to use for their Valentine's Day pre-orders that you can find on their website. The code is valid for a one-time use through February 29, 2024. Now that's what I call a SWEET DEAL!

Stay tuned for the 2023 Market Recap coming up next month!

Thanks for tuning in again for this first newsletter of 2024! I hope you find a sweet new spot to try out the next time you have a chocolate craving (or maybe a beloved place you haven't visited lately). I also hope to see you at Chocolate Dude next month. Happy January!