Champagne truffles are a common European chocolate staple, but almost always paired with sweet milk chocolate. Our organic European dark chocolate is already an ideal blend of bitter and sweet that, when paired with the dry undertones of Champagne, turns the flavor a bit too bitter to be palatable. So how did we create a vegan dark chocolate truffle that strikes the perfect balance?
It starts off as a big (and very heavy!) bag of untempered dark chocolate pieces derived from cocoa beans cultivated in South America, prepped through traditional processes in Europe. Always fair-trade from a small family-owned company in Europe, we specially selected this 70% soy-free dark chocolate and temper it to the perfect smooth, liquid consistency.
And that’s where the real fun begins.
Welcome to the beginning of your decadent chocolate journey, where all that’s required of you is a sense of adventure and an appetite as we take you behind the scenes of our delicious creations, share exciting news about the goings-on of our shop and our company, and give some insight not only to chocolate and the delicious creations we love to bring you, but to the personalities behind them!
Your guide on this journey is me, Samantha—in the past, commonly seen at the front counter by many of you, and commonly seen staring at a Mac screen by the DT team. Product packaging designer, marketing and social media coordinator, artist, webmaster, and previously a primary member of DT’s customer service. I think that sums up most of my tasks, past and present. As you’ll learn, we all wear many hats!
Why add a blog to our business? Well, there’s a lot to say about chocolate. And even more to say about a small business that’s been producing chocolates for about 15 years. The more we grow, in-store and online, the more exciting it is to reach new people. Now we want to share what it’s like on the other side of our chocolate case; to express why it matters so much to us.
Our hope is to get you as excited about chocolate as we are—and to teach you something new along the way. We want to show you what it’s like and turn you into an honorary member of the team. Your job title: Taster and Connoisseur, of course!
What can you expect from these blog posts? First looks and a behind-the-scenes view from inspiration to execution, tips and top-secret facts from owner/chocolatier Diane herself, updates on exciting store news and events, and lots more I’m sure! Comment below and let us know what you want to know. Is it the secret behind our process? Behind-the-scenes adventures? News on our latest events? Send along your questions too—we’d love to put together a Q&A!
Everyone jumps in wherever and whenever it’s needed—you’ve seen almost everyone at the front counter if you’re a regular! But each of us have our niche and a personality that fits into the team…
DIANE: The brave leader on this delicious quest. Divine Treasures would not exist without her. She is the heart and soul of the business, and of course the driving force and creative head behind everything we do. Her vision and leap of faith began this company in 2007, and her creativity and passion for chocolate keep it going. Her unending well of positivity and zest for life certainly keep all of us going! Her work ethic rivals that of a fresh-oiled machine, and it sure shows when you see how far this little chocolate shop has come. When she’s not busy running things and crafting her chocolates (which is rare!), you can bet she’s off on her bike or going for a walk. Learn more about Diane and the DT origin here.
ROBERTA: Otherwise known as “The Big Cheeze,” she holds the record as the longest-employed member of the team and is our expert non-dairy cheesemaker. She’s a dependable rock amidst the chaos; the one to count on when you need anything done efficiently, quickly, consistently, and generally perfect (you’ve seen our Perfect Duos, haven’t you?!). Her dry sense of humor is also a gift to us all.
MAGGIE: With a signature laugh and an eclectic Spotify playlist singing from her pocket, she baked her way into our hearts and took our dessert selection to the next level. Yep, she baked those cookies on your Cookiewich and that melt-in-your-mouth brownie you’re always craving! Thanks to her natural talent and commitment to her work, we’re offering more delicious treats than ever before. She also has a knack for telling stories about her day that rival the excitement of a Marvel movie.
OLIVIA: With a warm smile that could melt a thousand hearts, she’s often waiting for you up at the counter, about to swirl up your perfect sundae, or else handling all the chaos around her with a grace worth commending. Filling our assortment boxes, packaging treats, and handling your finds at the counter, she tackles a range of daily tasks with a methodic efficiency that is honestly calming just to witness. Her commitment to her work and the team can be seen in every action!
KRISTY: The newest member to our team and a true soldier for the chocolate cause! She hit the ground running and really, has been running ever since. She never shies away from a task, and Diane and the DT crew couldn’t be more grateful. She has claimed the sink space as her domain—don’t you dare wash your own tray or you’ll get a signature Kristy scolding! Though new to the group, it’s already clear that our shop could not run as smooth or as fast as it does now without her around to support production.
SAMANTHA: I’ve been an employee of Divine Treasures for 6+ years, mostly on the creative (and computer) end—but you’ll have to ask the others what they think of me. All I can say for sure is I have been lucky to become in Divine Treasures as I am and continue to be despite having moved onto freelance work. It’s been quite the journey. And yes, now I’m roping you into the journey too!
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram and share your thoughts in the comments below. Now, get tasting!
