The UK’s love affair with chocolate began in the 17th century, when cocoa was first introduced to the aristocracy, imported back from the newly established British colonies in the Americas. Chocolate houses appeared and flourished in London soon after, serving hot chocolate as a fashionable alternative to coffee. Towards the end of the 19th century, the Industrial Revolution led to innovators like Fry’s, Rowntree’s and Cadbury pioneering mass production techniques, and developing the first solid bars of chocolates.
Today’s artisan chocolatiers offer a blend between exemplary craftsmanship and inventive flavour profiles that have led to high-quality products flourishing once again on the locally produced market. From small rural ateliers to elegant city boutiques, these creators are pushing the boundaries of what chocolate can be and offer the best handmade chocolates in the UK.
The Chocolate Society
Founded in 2002 by two former financiers and tucked away in the beautiful rolling countryside of Somerset, The Chocolate Society has built a reputation for balancing time-honoured methods with a sprinkle of modern flair. What distinguishes the company is its dedication to sustainability and ethical sourcing. Every bar and box supports fair-trade practices, while the polished designs and inventive combinations make their chocolates ideal gifts for slowly savouring, one indulgent bite at a time.
Meticulously crafted truffles with a velvety ganache centre and an elegantly thin shell are among the highlights from the artisanal makers, offering a range of flavours from dark chocolate and salted caramel to espresso. The blonde chocolate truffles are a particularly popular item, as are the chocolate drops sold by the bag, for those wanting to get experimental with making their own creations at home.
Rococo Chocolates
Rococo Chocolates is especially known for its lavish bars of exotic chocolate, such as the ‘Madagascar’ single-origin chocolate bar. Showcasing the floral, fruity notes of the island nation’s cocoa and reflecting the brand’s commitment to flavour purity, organic ingredients, and ethical sourcing, forms the core of their ethos for producing the finest quality chocolate.
An example of their brilliant attention to detail is their many beautifully styled truffles. From delicate lavender and honey to zesty passionfruit, each piece is hand-finished and bursting with personality (and flavour, of course). All of the chocolates are made in small batches to ensure quality and consistency, with their bold design and appearance making them as easy on the eye as they are on the mouth.
Willie's Cacao
Willie’s Cacao operates with a strict philosophy. Every step of their process – from sourcing the beans directly from farmers, to conching the chocolate – is done in-house with meticulous care to preserve quality and honour the timeless techniques of British chocolate making.
The bars created by Willie’s are all about celebrating the flavour nuances of different cocoa-growing regions. A notable example is their ‘Pure Gold’ 100% Venezuelan cacao, which delivers intense, earthy richness devoid of any bitter taste. This is chocolate designed not just to provoke taste buds, but best enjoyed slowly, piece by piece. Willie’s devotion to provenance, sustainability, and low-intervention chocolate making creates complex and deeply layered bars of edible gold.
Artisan du Chocolat
Founded by Irish chef Gerard Coleman and based in London, what sets Artisan du Chocolat apart is its ability to combine style with substance. The use of single-origin cocoa and organic creams ensures every chocolate is both delicious and thoughtfully made. All of their products are created in small batches at their Kent atelier, where each ingredient is carefully selected and paired together to bring about the boldest flavour combinations possible.
Signature truffles offer a glossy chocolate shell that encases warm, oozing caramel with a strong hit of sea salt, whilst other offerings combine bold flavours like yuzu, blackcurrant, and champagne. These infused chocolates and truffles showcase the brand’s playful approach, pushing the boundaries of the modern chocolate experience, offering bold flavour combos that keep customers returning for more.
Chococo
The Dorset-based Chococo takes a distinctly regional approach to chocolate making. Sourcing key components such as cream, honey and fruits from local producers across the country, and combining them with sustainably traded cocoa, they create chocolates that are unmistakably, deeply rooted in their place of origin.
Signature offerings include truffles filled with a smooth caramel that contains a touch of Dorset sea salt, encased in crisp, dark chocolate. It’s a simple yet perfectly balanced combination, emblematic of Chococo’s focus on flavour over intricate designs or recipes. Tasting boxes, which present a curated mix of truffles, filled chocolates and small bars, make excellent gifts that offer a fresh taste with each new season.
The Bean Shop
For dark chocolate lovers in particular, this quiet Scottish gem is worthy of a trip to tour and taste. The Bean Shop in Perth is a small-batch, bean-to-bar chocolatier, known for its devotion to the origin and character of the cocoa bean. Sourcing ethically from small farms and cooperatives, they roast and refine the beans themselves, fully controlling every element of the final product.
Their 70% Dark Chocolate bar is a standout, with a touch of fruitiness and a slow-developing finish. It’s the kind of bar that pairs perfectly with a glass of red wine or a strong espresso. Combinations such as Milk & White Chocolate with Earl Grey tea reveal The Bean Shop’s sense of fun when it comes to producing high-quality chocolate that subverts expectations.
