A Chocolate Lover's Guide To Melbourne

Known for producing the finest macrons, éclairs, chocolates and French pastries, Cacao has established itself as a boutique chocolate brand. Award winning pastry chefs Laurent Meric and Tim Clark lead a team that produces chocolates and French-style desserts for its Doncaster and Highpoint stores as well as suppling five star hotels and first and business class passengers on international flights. At each store you’ll discover over 30 hand crafted chocolates in familiar and fascinating flavours and favourites include the Black Pearl, Burnt Orange. There’s also a selection of surprisingly spectacular macaroons flavours including honeycomb gaytime, lemon lime and bitters, and strawberry yoghurt. This Easter, kids will love the Funny Bunny and Chicken Little while for the adults you can purchase polka dot or petit eggs.

Born from farmers’ markets in 2008, Ministry of Chocolateis a family owned business which uses the finest Belgian and French chocolate to create their own one of a kind products. Located on High Street Malvern with an additional online store, Ministry of Chocolate is known for its ‘blocks’ which looked like Lego as well as their innovative flavours and range of smores. This Easter you’ll find bunnies, hens and freckle faced eggs, hazelnut praline ducks eggs and for the star gazes there’s a limited edition ‘Under South Sky’ egg.

Set amongst the rolling hills of the Yarra Valley wine region, Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery is a decadent experience like no other. As you enter the showroom you’ll see shelves upon shelves of chocolates, and with over 250 products there’s something for everyone. There are chocolate freckles as big as your face, the rockiest rocky road around, petit French chocolates, truffles and mouth-watering sauces. There’s also a single origin collection, busk tucker range and unusual as well as old-time favourite ice cream flavours. As you browse the showroom take a peek through the glass window and watch the chocolatiers work and then take your purchases and enjoy them outside while looking out onto the vineyards.

In late 2001 a chocolate store opened in North Balwyn specialising in truffles, and now Hahndorf’s has 13 stores spread across Victoria. Chocolatiers Manfred and Erica Kolberg’s vision was to create a ‘café-style chocolate shop’ where chocolate lovers could sample a truffle or two. There are over 40 truffles flavours to test including sticky date pudding, lemon sherbet and ginger and some stores even have taste testing pumps. This year give a Hahndorf gift box filled with a variety of truffles.

Founded in 2011, Burch & Purcheseis a fantastical chocolate land in South Yarra run by owner and chef Darren Purchese and his wife Cath Claringbold. B&P specialize in creative sweets including chocolate lollipops, peanut butter and jam wheels, a range of rubbles and a selection of curds and jams amongst other cakes and desserts. Darren Purchese will even whip up extravagant wedding cakes for your special day. This Easter choose an animal from their adorable range which includes the B&P Pink Chick, Pablo the Easter Penguin, Sneaky B&P Chocolate Chick, Miley the Easter Bear, boy in a chicken suit, the B&P bunny or go for something native with the Milk Chocolate Kangaroo. There are also lollipops, our favorite is the ‘fried egg,’ and a range of gift boxes.

With humble beginnings in the Prahran Market, Monsieur Truffe is now located in Lygon Street behind the little red door. Known for its single-origin artisan chocolate, Monsieur Truffe produces chocolate with Bolivian, Madagascan, Venezuelan and Ecuadorian roots as well as the Brazilian bean to bar. They even sell a 70 percent African blend hot chocolate mix. Monsieur Truffe prides itself on creating organic products, even ensuring that their chocolates are wrapped in environmentally friendly packaging. If you’re looking for organic products this Easter then stop by Monsieur Truffe.

If you’ve ever seen their Instagram feed then you know how delightfully special Pana Chocolate is. Founded by Pana Barbounis, Pana Chocolate is dedicated to producing raw, vegan friendly chocolate in a diverse range of flavours. Handmade in Melbourne, Pana Chocolate uses Bolivian cacao pods, coconut from the Philippines, cacao butter from Peru, Mexican agave nectar, Spanish wild carob and Sri Lankan organic cinnamon to make their bars. There are bars available for a range of special occasions including Easter, and some of their most unusual flavours include the fig and wild cherry, sour cherry and vanilla, and the hemp and nib.

Tad Lombardo’s success story started at the Prahran Market. Since then he has worked with Ben Shewry of Attica Restaurant, a three hat winning establishment. The gourmet chocolates at Cioccolate Lombardo are anything but ordinary with flavours such as sage ganache, parsnip, coffee and white chocolate mousseline and vanilla infused olive oil jelly. If you’re looking for something unique this Easter then visit the Prahran market to choose from the exclusive selection Felchlin Swiss couverture.

Xocolatl, pronounced sho-KO-la-tl, is the creation of the Parisioglou family whose chocolate dreams became a reality in 2005 when their Canterbury store opened. Inspired by Belgian style bonbons the Parisioglou family continue to explore exotic and savoury flavours while steering clear of artificial preservatives. Xocolatl is now located in Kew East as well as in Canterbury, and their chocolates can be purchased online. For Easter why not try a strawberry balsamic or chilli toffee block.