Best of Vancouver Chocolate Shop Voting
Just over a week ago, on Valentine’s Day, we launched our latest Best of Vancouver search. This time, we’re on the hunt for the best chocolate shop in the city. After all that snow this week, we could all use a bit of a pick-me-up, and chocolate seems like a great mood booster to us. Over the past week and a half you’ve shared your favourite Vancouver chocolate shops with us, and today we’re asking you to weigh in and vote. We’ve compiled a list of 12 amazing Vancouver chocolate shops, both across the city and in the suburbs, based on your input. Before you cast your ballot, read a little bit about each one.
Best of Vancouver Chocolate Shop Finalists
We’re presenting the nominees in alphabetical order, not in order of ranking or preference.
Beta 5
beta5chocolates.com
413 Industrial Avenue, Vancouver
They bill themselves as ‘a contemporary and innovative chocolate and pastry shop’. But do they truly offer some of the best Vancouver chocolate? It’s up to you to decide.
Charlie’s Chocolate Factory
www.charlieschocolatefactory.com
3746 Canada Way, Burnaby
#2 – 1770 McLean Avenue, Port Coquitlam
Their Burnaby store features their our “one and only” chocolate river, flowing with real chocolate. They offer a variety of molded chocolates in all shapes and sizes, as well as supplies for DIY chocolatiers and chocolates for diabetics.
Chocolate Arts
www.chocolatearts.com
1620 W 3rd Avenue, Vancouver
If we were to go on our Best of Vancouver chocolate shop nominations, Chocolate Arts is the front-runner. They offer hand-made chocolates, featuring local and organic ingredients. The result is meant to be distinctly Vancouver chocolate.
Chocolaterie de la Nouvelle France
chocolaterienouvellefrance.ca
198 East 21st Avenue, Vancouver
Anne-Geneviève Poitras started this chocolate and confection shop out of her love of fine foods. She opts for single origin, plantation, French chocolate, and creates hand-made chocolates free of preservatives, food colouring and artificial flavours.
Cinnamon’s Chocolates
www.cinnamons.ca
119 East 2nd Street, North Vancouver
This North Vancouver chocolate shop comes from Master Confectioner Tom Cinnamom. He has spent 40 years in the chocolate business, and favours Guittard chocolate made in the French tradition, as well as the highest-quality ingredients available.
Cocoa Nymph
www.cocoanymph.com
3739 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver
Cocoa Nymph carries chocolates, chocolate bars and confections. In addition, they offer workshops. You can try your hand at truffle-making, and learn even more about chocolate. Of course, there’s also plenty of tasting!
La Chocolaterie
www.coconama.com
160-7971 Alderbridge Way, Richmond
Calling themselves Vancouver’s first ganache shop, La Chocolaterie can be found at their store in Richmond and at artisan and farmers’ markets. They specialize in creating innovative flavour options by combining chocolate with a variety of ingredients.
Mink Chocolates
www.minkchocolates.com
863 West Hastings Street, Vancouver
Unit F-110 Morgan Crossing, 15775 Croydon Drive, Surrey
Their specialty is the handfilled ganache chocolate bar, which they claim is the perfect size for your daily chocolate indulgence. They also offer organic and fair trade chocolate bars, for a treat you can feel great about.
Purdy’s Chocolatier
www.purdys.com
More than 20 locations in Metro Vancouver
Richard Carmon Purdy opened his first chocolate shop on Robson Street in 1907. Since then, Purdy’s has become the standard-bearer of Vancouver chocolate shops. What you may not know is they’re also committed to improving cocoa sustainability, and are supporting Winrock International as they implement an innovative child labour prevention program.
Sinfully the Best
www.sinfullythebest.com
13-3993 Chatham Street, Richmond
This Steveston chocolate shop specializes in artisan chocolates, made by hand in store. They’ve also recently expanded to offer special dessert-making classes on their premises.
Thomas Haas
www.thomashaas.com
128-998 Harbourside Drive, North Vancouver
2539 West Broadway Avenue, Vancouver
This Vancouver chocolate shop features a cappuccino bar and Patisserie, in two locations. Their treats are made by hand, by pastry chefs and chocolatiers. They also work hard to choose the best raw ingredients for the perfect chocolate.
XOXOLAT
www.xoxolat.com
1271 Homer Street, Vancouver
XOXOLAT in Yaletown is pronounced sho-sho-la, and it claims to carry the largest selection of single origin chocolate bars in Canada. They also offer chocolate tastings in their shop – sounds like the perfect evening out to us!
Cast Your Vote
We’ve shared twelve of the best Vancouver chocolate shops with you – now it’s time to vote! You may vote once for up to three of your favourites. Voting closes at 5:00pm on March 7, 2014.
When you’re choosing a Vancouver chocolate shop, you might want to consider asking questions beyond taste. On Facebook we were reminded that a lot of chocolate does involve child labour. The best chocolate is chocolate that feels great to eat, too.
Wonderful list you have here Amber.
Here’s our pick, list of the best chocolates in Vancouver. Let me know if you agree:
1) Beta 5 – That’s a given
2) Daniel’s chocolate – A rare gem in Vancouver. It’s one of the original authentic Belgium (preparation) chocolates. Daniel comes from Belgium with a HUGE love for chocolates. Been eating it for years (almost 7 actually)
3) Rogers’ Chocolate – HIGHLY recommended. A huge community supporter. Doing good in society with a lot of philanthropic work. Great chocolates with an experienced chocolatier at the helm while steep in history. Great people too.
4) ChocolaTas – Award winning chocolate. Wim Tas has trained under the chocolatier who’s the exclusive supplier of chocolates to the Belgium Royalty. How’s that for apprenticeship?
5) Charlie Chocolate Factory – Had to put it in there because it’s quite the icon experience with their chocolate river in Burnaby (though explicitly not affiliated with Charlie Chocolate Factory movie – the owner’s name is actually charlie)
http://bit.ly/BestChocolatesVancouver
By the way, not too sure if it matters but Mink is actually getting their chocolates made from ChocolaTas if I’m not mistaken. Their award winning chocolate bars like the Chai bar (not the actual name but don’t remember the name) was crafted by ChocolaTas if I’m not mistaken. (technically the award is theirs. It was at a San Fransico chocolatier conference – moderately prestigious but not the nationals)
Yes, I like chocolate! haha
– Benjamin