Chocoladedroom
Cocoa from afar, crafted here
A lovely piece of chocolate from a generous bar. Who hasn’t tucked into one at some point? But chocolate is more than that. They know this all too well at Chocoladedroom in Niekerk, Groningen. This is where real chocolate is made: from the finest cocoa, with cocoa butter. And it’s handmade. From bonbons to letters and everything in between. “Chocolate is an experience you have to taste.”
Good taste
“We produce quality products, doing things just that little bit differently from the crowd,” says Klaas proudly. He used to be a pastry chef; now he’s a chocolatier. Chocoladedroom delicious creations are made in a space next to the home he shares with his wife, Aalberdien. Small-scale but brimming with quality. Well, small-scale: there are weeks when 100 kilos of chocolates are made here. Dark, white, milk. With or without a filling. The chocolate comes from far afield; the rest is made here. With real cocoa butter. You can really taste the difference. From the outside to the inside: everything is made by hand.
From grain to chocolate
Before a chocolate ends up in your mouth, it goes through quite a process. It starts with selecting the best and tastiest chocolate. “You have to taste a lot for that,” says Klaas with a smile. “I don’t mind that at all, mind you.” Once the choice has been made, the chocolate beans go into the machine to be brought to the correct temperature. This is a very precise process. Next comes the tempering of the chocolate: adding solid chocolate to the melted mixture. And if necessary, the temperature is adjusted slightly again. It’s at this stap of the process that the chocolate’s sheen, aroma, colour and hardness take shape. Almost ready. Pour it into the right mould, chill it, and enjoy. Fancy making your own chocolate? They run some great workshops – either on-site or right there in their chocolate shop.
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.
