Chocoladedroom
Cocoa from afar with craft from here
A good piece of chocolate from a hefty bar. Who hasn't snacked on it once? But chocolate is more than that. They know that all too well at Chocoladedroom in Niekerk, Groningen. This is where real chocolate is made: from the best cocoa, with cocoa butter. And made by hand. From chocolates to letters and everything in between. ''Chocolate is an experience you have to taste.''
Good taste
''We make quality, do things just a little differently from the masses,'' Klaas says proudly. Formerly a pastry chef, he is now a chocolatier. In a room next to his and his wife Aalberdien's home, Chocoladedroom 's tasty creations are made. Small-scale but bursting with quality. Well, small-scale: there are weeks where 100 kilos of chocolates are made here. Pure, white, milk. With or without filling. The chocolate comes from far away, the rest is made here. With real cocoa butter. You can taste that. From outside to inside: everything by hand.
From grain to bonbon
Before a chocolate ends up in your mouth, it goes through an entire process. It starts with selecting the best and tastiest chocolate. ''You have to taste a lot for that,'' Klaas says with a smile. ''I don't mind so much, mind you.'' Once the selection is made, the chocolate grains go into the machine. To bring them to the right temperature. This comes very close. Then chocolate grafting begins: adding hard chocolate to the melted variety. And if necessary, the temperature is adjusted again a little. In this stap of the process, the shine, smell, colour and hardness of the chocolate comes to form. Almost ready. Pour into the right mould, cool and enjoy. Making your own chocolate? You can join them for cool workshops. On location or just at their chocolaterie.
The end products of the hard work come in all shapes and flavours. From chocolates to bars and other goodies. Shoes, bags and cars, for example. Nothing is too crazy for them. Nice and original. That's also the beauty of chocolate," says Klaas. ''You can do anything with it. The flavours and shapes are endless.'' Their creations go in all directions. From the Rijksuniversiteit to Hooghoudt. And the Groningen Store in the Forum. This is where you get their chocolates and unique chocolate bars. Ever had one with wadden salt, old wives' cake or egg ball flavour? Whatever your favourite flavour, they are all delicious. Secretly, everyone has a sweet tooth. Curious how it tastes? So pop into the Groningen Store or order online and make your own chocolate mousse with it, for instance.
