At Chuao Chocolatier we are passionate about chocolate. We hope that the more opportunity you have to taste it and learn, the more passionate you will become, too!

We’ve decided to feed that already existing passion with answers to our most frequently asked questions. If you have a question that is not answered below, please do not hesitate to contact us. As well, if you have any comments or suggestions, we are always interested in hearing about others who share our passion.

What does Chuao mean?
Chuao (Chew-WOW) is a legendary cacao growing region in Venezuela. Chuao Chocolatier is named after the region as a reflection of our commitment to both high quality and our Venezuelan family heritage. It is our hope that one taste of our secret blend of premium chocolate will make you happily say “Chew-WOW!”

What makes Chuao Chocolatier unique?
At Chuao Chocolatier, we are on a mission to arouse your senses with unusual, unexpected and delicious flavors. We realize that, like making the finest chocolate, there are certain ingredients needed in order to accomplish a mission successfully. We believe that our “pantry" is stocked with just what we need:

• A secret blend of premium chocolate
• A dedication to sourcing high quality, all natural ingredients
• Delightfully unusual and unexpected flavor combinations
  We use exotic spices and savory ingredients to bring our chocolate to a whole new level.
  

• The endless imagination and creativity of our Chocolatier, Michael Antonorsi
• A commitment to social responsibility
  

We believe that a company can only thrive if it gives back to the community responsible for its success. We take pride in supporting sustainability efforts, like our Aguasanta Growth Initiative in
Venezuela. In our local community, we participate in regional efforts, event sponsorship,
charitable giving and partnerships.

Are your products natural?
Yes! We take exacting care to select the finest natural ingredients and apply the best confectionary processes so that no flavor enhancers, preservatives, or any otherwise unnatural ingredient is required. Chuao Chocolatier chocolate confections are created to be enjoyed just as nature intended so that nothing gets between your taste buds and the true taste of chocolate.

Do you offer kosher products?
No, we do not currently offer kosher products.

Do you offer sugar free chocolate?
Yes! We currently offer two sugar free chocolate bars, the Sugar Free Spicy Maya bar and the Sugar Free Coffee and Anise bar, which are sweetened with maltitol. Click here for more information about our sugar free chocolate offerings.

Why is freshness so important in chocolate?
Natural chocolate is a perishable product. At Chuao Chocolatier, our products contain no artificial preservatives as we choose to create only handmade, natural confections.

As anyone who has tried to melt chocolate knows, it melts easily, but is fickle about temperature. We take extra care when shipping our chocolate to ensure that it maintains its freshness and integrity. To prevent melting or discoloration, all Chuao Chocolatier creations should be kept cool and stored in appropriate conditions. Should you decide to refrigerate, please place in a
re-sealable type bag or container and let it warm up to room temperature prior to opening. A product that is made with care should be handled with care. Enjoy!

What is the difference between a bonbon and a truffle?
It is a very subtle difference. Our best attempt to describe it would be: Bonbons have a chocolate outer layer. They can be either made via molds or via an enrobing/dipping process. In this case the inside could be a ganache (mix of cream and chocolate), a praline or other ingredients such as heavy cream, caramels, nuts, raisins, etc.

Truffles, on the other hand, have a chocolate based filling that could be a "ganache" or praline inside and are usually covered on its outer layer with non chocolate coverings like: sugar and sliced nuts among others. In the case of the wild truffle for example, it is covered with cocoa powder.

Where can I buy Chuao Chocolatier chocolate confections?
Chuao Chocolatier is sold coast to coast, available at select specialty retailers, gourmet grocers, natural food stores (click here to find a retailer near you) and our own Chuao Chocolatier Chocolate Cafes. You can also purchase through our online store.

Do you ship nationwide?
Yes. Your order will be packed and shipped according to what the current climate requires. Each Chuao Chocolatier order is carefully packed to minimize damage to contents. We use cold ice wrappers as needed and secure packing to ensure that our product provides a feast for the eyes as well as the palate. If you have any questions about shipping, please contact our shipping department directly at (760) 602-9484 ext. 209 between 9am-5pm PST, Monday through Friday.

Do you have retail locations?
We opened our first chocolate cafe in September 2002, in Encinitas, California – two blocks off the beach in a historic part of town. Since then we have grown to three chocolate cafes in Southern California. For more information about our shops and Chocolate Cafes, click here. To be notified about upcoming café and community events, new café locations, chocolate promotions, contests and other Chuao Chocolatier news,  please join our mailing list by entering your email address into the box at the bottom of this page.

Do you offer chocolate for weddings and private events?
Yes! Our chocolate creations are ideal for weddings, ideal for celebrating a love that is sweet and true. Chuao Chocolatier chocolate confections can be packaged as party favors or dessert trays for other catered events. Please contact us for details.
(link to contact page)

Do we provide custom corporate event and client gifts?
Yes, chocolate makes a perfect gift! Please let us know how we can help accommodate your corporate gift or event needs. Contact a Chuao Chocolatier customer service representative via phone: (888) 635-1444  or email: sales@chuaochocolatier.com.

Does your chocolatier, Master Chef Michael Antonorsi, do celebrity Chef appearances and private events?
Yes, Chef Michael is available for events, appearances and presentations. Fore more information please contact us via email: media@chuaochocolatier.com.

How can I find out about Chuao Chocolatier events, promotions and news?
Thanks for asking! Please sign up for our email newsletter for news you can use. Please note that Chuao Chocolatier respects your privacy and does not sell or rent your private information.

More information can be found on the following links:

* How to Taste Chocolate
* Wine & Chocolate