Want to try real chocolate? Like it should taste?

Julie Walters: ‘Everybody should experience what real chocolate tastes like’.

Below: Brandy dining liquor truffle and, right, lemon cup truffle.

MEET THE MAKER

Anyone seeking traditional chocolates won’t get much more authentic than the lineup at Chocolate Country Montville. Chocolatier and owner Julie Walters said her shop was the legacy of her yearning to bring back traditional methods and ingredients and rediscover the true flavours of yesteryear.

“I wanted everybody to experience what real chocolate tastes like,” Julie said.

“I use high quality cocoa content Belgian chocolate in all my creations. I grow it on my farm, and source and use other ingredients from nearby local producers.”

Julie said she purchased chocolate country and set about changing the small hinterland shop into a temptation destination.

“We’re removing all palm products and inferior low cocoa content chocolate to give the public the true taste of chocolate that has been absent from our childhoods,” she said. “I feel too many people have accepted what is put in front of them by large producers with no regard to the environment or the animals living here or the real taste of the products from our childhoods.”

Julie said her eyes were opened while travelling through Borneo in 2014 where she witnessed the devastating effect of the palm oil industry on the environment and the animals. “I promised myself I would do all I could to avoid this product in my creations.

“We have removed the fudge range that was supplied from America in powder form,” she said.

“It was full of palm oil. It’s everywhere on the coast. As a result we have created a truly unique-tasting crumbly flavoured range of fudges — bringing back the flavour from the past.

Julie said customers appreciated Chocolate Country’s passion for caring for the environment and striving for quality.

“When people come into our shop or attend one of our chocolate schools they love to feel part of  a changing tide of people keen to shop and eat sustainable products sourced from small independent farmers. Chocolate Country started slow but we are gaining ground on the mass producers — not through producing more — but by delivering the type of quality that’s all but disappeared in the industry.”

• Visit the shop in Montville or order online from www.chocolatecountry.com. “We are now delivering free of charge to 30km radius of Montville to spread the word of quality over quantity,” said Julie.

You might also like …