Chocolate Explorers Club

08/05/2026

My introduction to São Tomé chocolate came through a single maker whose flavor profile — intense and savory — wasn't what I was looking for at the time. It shaped my opinion of the origin for years.

Zotter's São Tomé 75% changed that. Creamy, cashew notes, hints of tropical fruit. A completely different expression of the same origin.

It's one of five bars in members' May box, alongside single-origin bars from Colombia and a Contest bar — Zotter's format that pairs two origins, Belize and Panama, in a single wrapper. Two Hand Scooped bars round out the box: Raspberry Cherry with Pumpkin Crunch and Hazelnut Brittle.

All organic, fair trade, bean-to-bar from a family farm in Bergl, Austria.

Which bar are you opening first? 👇

20/04/2026

This is irresponsible "journalism". The New York Times should do better than this.

We asked 43 experts to tell us their favorite brands available in the United States. Here, their top nominations under $25.

09/04/2026

We really like this packaging. There's so much beauty in its simplicity.

Do you read chocolate packaging or go straight for the chocolate?

08/04/2026

April's box has arrived 🍫

Six bars from Mike & Becky — Brussels' first organic bean-to-bar workshop. Cacao from a women's cooperative in Peru, Dominican
cacao paired with Belgian walnuts, and a bar made with gin distilled from pandemic-era beer are among the flavorful selections.

Which bar are you tearing into first?

07/03/2026

The Chocolate Explorers Club was at the Salon du Chocolat NYC today - and it was full of great, chocolaty energy! Back for another dose tomorrow.

20/02/2026

This month, we traveled to Sweden without leaving home.

Standout Chocolate's Fredrik Martinsson makes craft chocolate that's deeply rooted in Nordic ingredients and tradition. Spruce shoots hand-picked from Swedish forests. Sugar kelp paired with Dominican cacao. A caramelized goat cheese dating back to Viking times. Two single-origin bars from Belize and Guatemala rounding out a selection that spans continents.

This is what a Chocolate Explorers Club box looks like - five carefully chosen bars, each with a story worth tasting.

🍫 Which bar would you reach for first? Drop it in the comments.

📦 New boxes ship monthly. Link in bio to learn more.

19/02/2026

Fredrik Martinsson was designing manual transmissions for Ford and Volvo when his industry pivoted to electric. Suddenly, he had a year to decide, "What's next?". He chose chocolate, and never looked back.

Swipe to see how Standout Chocolate comes to life — from whole cacao beans to the stone-grinding refiner to the finished bars we curated for this month's member box.

🗓️ Join us tomorrow. Fredrik joins The Chocolate Explorers Club for a live conversation and tasting on Friday, February 20 at 10am PT / 1pm ET. Members, watch your inbox for the Zoom link.

Not a member yet? It's not too late to join us. Our digital membership gives you access to live "Meet the Maker" events like this one, plus our community portal — available worldwide. Link in bio to sign up before tomorrow's event.

MeetTheMaker

16/02/2026

Happy faces from our Friday wine and chocolate pairing event with Synne Cellars in Woodinville, WA.

We tasted five chocolates with four wines. The combo that totally surprised us - Marou Chocolate Bà Ria 69% Ginger Lime with Synne Cellars Walla Walla Merlot. Unexpectedly delicious!

Thanks to Nova and Isaac for hosting a great event!

29/01/2026

Start a new Valentine's tradition.

Eight small-batch craft chocolate bars. Guided tasting placemats. Conversation prompts that go beyond "how was your day?" Pairing tips worth trying.

And here's what makes it special: a live virtual tasting with on Valentine's weekend. We'll taste together, explore what makes each bar unique, and connect over chocolate.

Perfect for date night at home or Galentine's celebrations.

Ships now. Limited quantities left for Valentine's delivery.

Link in bio.

28/01/2026

Mirzam is the first chocolate maker in Dubai—and no, this isn't "Dubai Chocolate."

This Saturday at 10am PT/1pm ET, we're going live with Chief Chocolate Officer Kathy Johnston. She'll share the story of building Dubai's first chocolate factory, how the ancient spice route inspires every bar, and what it's like leading a team of 75 with zero formal training.

Current members: you'll find the event link in your member portal under "Events & Expeditions."

Not a member yet? It's not too late. Our digital membership gives you access to all live events like this one, plus our member-only community and portal—everything except the monthly chocolate delivery.

Valentine's Day is coming up. A gift subscription delivers discovery every month, or grab our Connection Collection for a couples tasting experience at home.

What questions do you have for Kathy? Drop them below 👇

22/01/2026

January's box features the first chocolate made in Dubai.

Mirzam draws on Middle Eastern heritage and the ancient spice route for inspiration. Saffron, rose, dates, and fennel bring thousands of years of trade and travel into every bar.

Chief Chocolate Officer Kathy Johnston came to chocolate with no formal training—just a childhood love so strong she'd stack chairs to reach her mom's secret stash. Now she leads a team of 75 crafting some of the most interesting chocolate we've tasted.

The Date & Fennel bar? It's what made us fall in love with this maker.

Which bar are you trying first?