Honest Chocolate, a small artisanal chocolate company based in Cape Town, uses only the finest raw (unroasted) organic cacao.
From their stores in Wale Street and the Woodstock Exchange, founders Anthony Gird and Michael De Klerk, along with their team, create the finest handcrafted chocolate with a distinctly rich taste. Taking artisanal chocolate to new heights, they’re about to open Cape Town’s first chocolate café. CTE.com chats to Anthony about what must be a very ‘drab’ life in chocolate making.
You have shops in both the Woodstock Exchange and on Wale Street. What made you choose these locations?
Wale St was offered to us and it was such a beautiful space we had to take it. WX was intended to be our production kitchen after we outgrew Wale St, but we were asked to put up a shop, which made sense to us. It’s a vibey place with great exposure.
Who are your clientele?
Mostly people who appreciate fine food and are looking for something better than the average dark chocolate – a healthier option.
What do you love about making chocolate in Cape Town?
Cape Town is very open to new ideas, especially the food and artisan side. People are looking for something different and healthy too.
Where do you source your ingredients from?
Our cacao comes from a family run coop in Ecuador – it’s pretty much the best cacao bean you can get.
How do you keep things fresh and current?
We experiment with different ingredients for new truffles, and having our own shops means we can sell whatever we want. We also change out packaging with every new slab flavour to keep it fresh.
What’s your favourite chocolate or product you’ve made?
The chocolate pizza! We’re going to be making this and more at our new Chocolate Café on Wale Street.
What’s next?
The Chocolate Café of course! Check out our Thundafund campaign to see how you can get involved.
OF NOTE
Where 66 Wale St, CBD / The Woodstock Exchange, 66 Albert Road, Woodstock
Trading hours Monday to Friday 9 am – 5 pm, Saturdays 10 am – 2 pm
Contact [email protected], www.honestchocolate.co.za
Photography Kendall-Leigh Nash/HSMimages.co.za Videography and portrait Rory Keohane/HSMimages.co.za