The history of chocolate is a testament to how a product can reach all four corners of the globe, moving through thousands of different developments, iterations and evolutions that cater for different tastes. The role of the UK in this history is chiefly concerned with taking what was seen as a 17th century luxury drink to the solid confection that most of us are familiar with today. This allowed chocolate to reach the masses around Europe with pioneers such as John Cadbury and Joseph Fry creating production methods that drove chocolate innovation forward. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the city of London became home to a collection of esteemed chocolate salons that really set the standard for what was possible in a more elegant, refined and crafted way. This tradition continues well into the modern day with artisan chocolate brands in the UK consistently ranked amongst the world’s finest.
Charbonnel et Walker
Established in 1875 on London’s famous Bond Street, Charbonnel et Walker holds a prestige amongst the UK’s chocolate brands that is difficult to match. It began under the royal patronage of Edward VII and began earning a solid reputation for its truffles that came in a suitably regal presentation to encourage their receipt as an indulgent treat for the elite. This was a partnership forged by Madame Virginie Eugenie Charbonnel, a Parisian chocolatier and the London entrepreneur, Minnie Walker to bring an elegance to chocolate making that was in a league of its own. In 1970, they were granted the ultra-prestigious Royal Warrant as chocolatiers to Queen Elizabeth II as the ultimate seal of approval. With the finest premium ingredients used in production, such as rich Belgian couverture chocolate and Madagascan Vanilla, there is a clear value of subtle quality over excess in everything they make. The Marc de Champagne truffles from Charbonnel et Walker, placed in pink and gold boxes, have become synonymous with sophisticated chocolate choices all over the world.
Hotel Chocolat
The 1990s were a transformative time in the UK for almost every aspect of its culture. Much of this transformation in art, music and entertainment was based on the foundation of traditional elements that went through a process of reimagining and refinement for a more modern audience. In 1993 Hotel Chocolat was founded as part of this emerging scene to undertake a similar process for chocolate making in the country. Using a vertically integrated approach from ownership of plantations, through cultivation of the crops and development of products, they continue to blend tradition with edgier styles and innovations. Their small batch signature creations such as Sleekster and the H-Box Collections, are a curated assortment of salted caramel, passionfruit and praline gianduja that explore new flavour connections with intense and high cocoa percentages. Boundaries are also being pushed by Hotel Chocolat with immersive experiences like their Rabot 1745 restaurant in Borough Market that employs cocoa to showcase cocktails and savoury dishes. Sustainable and unforgettable, this is a modern chocolate lover's paradise.
Montezuma’s
The spirit of adventure that has defined chocolate products over the centuries is evident in the offerings from the bright and future-forward Montezuma’s brand. It is perhaps their flavour pairings that have delivered them such noteworthy status from their Brighton beginnings, with chilli and lime making unlikely but incredible new classics with dark chocolate. This is the epitome of a modern luxury food brand that upholds responsible sourcing, production methods and sustainability as much as it does the quality of the product, with Flagship Montezuma’s stores in Winchester, Chichester and Brighton allowing a playful side to be highlighted with sampling opportunities from fabulous displays that are landmark moments for the shopping locations. The proud independent identity that they have carefully crafted over the last 20 years has also given chocolate lovers some brave new developments, such as the 100% cocoa Absolute Black bars and eco-friendly, fully recyclable packaging. The fact that they have achieved so much and delighted customers with their flavour profiles without simply mimicking the established heritage brands of the chocolate world speaks volumes about their great success.
Green & Black’s
The naming conventions in the luxury food and drinks markets are so important. What Green & Black managed to do so effectively was combine a name that first appeared akin to traditional owner brands, but actually had a much stronger meaning. Green was for the ethical and responsible outlook they maintain for their ingredients and products, and Black was for the deep, rich cocoa that they continue to use in their products. The Maya Gold bar, greatly inspired by traditional Mayan recipes that represent the birth of chocolate, was created in 1994 and was famously the first product in the UK to receive the Fairtrade mark. Green & Black’s commitment to sustainability can never be seen to compromise the quality or taste of their offerings, with the purest ingredients creating a lingering and velvety mouthfeel that leisurely evokes feelings of rich indulgence and classic taste. The brand has shelves full of Great Taste awards across most of their product line and their presence at prestigious stores such as Fortnum and Mason and Waitrose reset what was possible for high-end chocolate, to set the tone for those brands that came after.
Harry Specters
Aligning products with purpose is the most important aspect of any luxury brand in the modern world. The story of Harry Specters is a brilliant example of this thinking in action, when Mona and Shaz Shah from Cambridgeshire were inspired to create a company that could offer employment, confidence, dignity and opportunity to those on the autism spectrum like their son Ash. Harry Specters is a chocolate atelier in the finest sense of the world with complete control of high quality ingredients in small batches, all hand-tempered, precisely moulded and approached with an artist’s eye for presentation and decoration. While their social mission may make headlines, it’s clearly the product that wins the awards and has established them firmly amongst the UK’s best. The Harry Specters Bonbon Selection are boxes of jewel-like works of sweet art, filled with raspberry & rose, spiced rum and passionfruit ganache for a mouth-watering bite. To date, they have been a part of over 300 autistic people’s employment journey and recognised by the Prime Minister’s Office in the UK. Harry Specters is where astounding enterprise and exquisite flavours work consistently in concert with each other.
Chocolate brands in the UK lean heavily on their storied past to reach some impressive new heights in the future. With a firm dedication to upholding craftsmanship methods and remaining true to tradition, they have found new opportunities, flavours and tastes that are tailor-made for modernity and beyond. It is well worth taking a bite for yourself to see how impressive this is.
