chocolate

© Amai

The lovely chocolate and wine bar Amai (=Japanese for sweet) is located near the famous Viktualienmarkt in Munich’s city center.

Amai is definitely a must on your next trip to Munich, if you are into chocolate as it offers you an abundance of mouthwatering chocolate creations.

Sabine Heinsch owns the small shop in red and dark, which shows her passion and attention to the detail. A Wallpaper right next to the door shows her delicious pyramid shaped pralines creations. Currently, Amai offers about 50 different flavors plus a couple of seasonal creations.

Amai chocolates are kosher certified, which guarantees high production standards. Upon order Amai even does lactose-free chocolates. Besides chocolate Amai offers wedding cakes and seasonal pastry such as Stollen (the famous Dresden Christmas cake) for the Holiday season.

Amai’s philosophy is back to basics. This is why Sabine puts her focus on the best available natural ingredients, taste and visual presentation. Since Amai chocolates are handmade in small batches, Sabine can quickly react to customer’s feedback and she also does custom orders.

Amai’s success is evident as it is collecting awards and mentions such as a listing by prestigious German food/ gourmet magazine «Der Feinschmecker».

But we not only like Amai chocolates. The story behind is also inspiring as it is another example for the great entrepreneurship behind. It all started when Sabine identified a need for high-end handmade chocolate and decided to fill this niche.
As the owner of a hotel in Munich’s countryside she certainly had gathered some experience in running a business. However, she was afraid that Munich’s picky gourmet crowd might not approve her work as a chocolatière.

Thus, the most exciting moment in her chocolate making career so far has been the overwhelming response by Munich's gourmets. Due to such success of her chocolate business Sabine decided to open her chocolate and wine bar about 2.5 years ago. Currently, she is working on adding an online shop to her website but you can already order by e-mail.

But go and see for yourself.

Enjoy!

More on Amai's Chocolate Making Workshops and Chocolate Tastings

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© Askinosie Chocolate

Shawn Askinosie, a very successful criminal lawyer decided more or less from one day to another to establish his own chocolate business – from scratch! What career change is that?!

ASKINOSIE Chocolate is the result of Shawn’s learning experience and if you love chocolate you definitely have to try his creations. We particularly like the white goat milk chocolate with pistachio but there is quite some variety to choose from.

And, the cool but environmental friendly packaging deserves also further attention.

However, it is not just the interesting and inspiring story of its founder that makes Askinosie Chocolate unique.

First there is ASKINOSIE’s approach to the chocolate production as such. As a small batch chocolate producer they have very high quality standards. They don’t use any additives. The only ingredients they are using are basically single origin cocoa beans, sugar and cocoa butter (made from the same cocoa beans). This is why you see the farmers face on the chocolate bars – it’s his cocoa production that was used for your chocolate bar. Isn’t that cool and inspiring!

Second and even more extraordinary Shawn shows an exceptional commitment towards his business partners which goes beyond fair trade. He established a close cooperation as real partners with his famers in Ecuador and Mexico. Due to the single origin approach ASKINOSIE Chocolate tracks the success of its chocolates by cocoa origin and shares 10% of its net profits as a « Stake of the Outcome™ » contribution with his farmers.

So make sure to try ASKINOSIE chocolates, which are special in many ways. Isn’t that a cool (business) transformation?

But go and see for yourself.

Enjoy!

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Elisabetta Capei, an Italian art historian and interior designer with a passion for the fine and luxury things owns this paradise for chocolate lovers in Zurich - just a few steps away from famous Bahnhofstrasse and Paradeplatz.

As soon as you enter the store you will notice her professional background and experience. It is a very well designed shop where you see and feel the owner's love and passion for beautiful things in the attention to the little details.

At TRUFFE (French for Truffles) you can find all sorts of beautiful things – great chocolates from various countries, interior design objects, china, antique silverware, linen and Kashmir products as well as a selection of books.

TRUFFE is supposed to be a space for well-being and if you love chocolate this is the place to be! Just to do some name dropping of chocolate brands you will be able to discover at TRUFFE: Venchi (IT), Gobino (IT), Gertosio (IT), Amedei (IT), Babbi (IT), Rococo (UK), Chapon (FR) etc. There are also some seasonal variations, which make this a place you want to go back to.

In addition, it is said that TRUFFE offers the best hot chocolate north of Modena!

Specials: If you are allergic to lactose or if you just want to keep an eye on your calorie intake, TRUFFE will have something delicious for you.
Further they also offer some special experiences around chocolate such as blind tastings and custom-made productions.

And they do some of the best gift wrapping in town!

So be sure to drop by on your next trip to Zurich. It will be a joy for all your senses.

But go and see for yourself.

Enjoy!

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