Golden Boy: IndyBest’s ‘Best Buy’ is Willie’s Cacao

At hf Chocolates, we want your chocolate supplies to be extraordinary, so we only work with the best brands out there. We love it when one of our favourite suppliers is recognised for their amazing achievements in the field of chocolaty goodness. So imagine our delight when we learnt that the fabulous Willie’s Cacao had been making headlines for all the right reasons!

Bean-to-Bar Bonanza

The superior craftsmanship – not to mention hard work – that goes into bean-to-bar manufacturing has been getting the international acclaim it deserves in recent years. Consumers enjoy being able to trace their treats back to the country, if not the actual farm, where they began their life. It also means that we are learning more and more about the various flavours of specific beans, which have resulted in a wonderful range of flavours and textures of chocolate on our shelves.

Though the United States has some stellar bean-to-bar chocolatiers, it’s one of our British brands, Willie’s Cacao, which was recently named The Independent’s IndyBest ‘Best Buy’ in this category. Let’s talk about this brand and discuss just what made it the best of the best.  

From Venezuela to Channel 4

Willie Harcourt-Cooze first came to the public’s attention in his 2008 documentary called Willie’s Wonky Chocolate Factory. A decade before, Willie had decided to buy a large cocoa farm in Venezuela after falling in love with it on his honeymoon. In when he was living in Devon in 2007, he invited the cameras in to film his attempt to introduce a bar made of 100% to the British market.  But as Willie points out, without sugar, it’s technically not chocolate at all!

Since then, his company has gone from strength to strength, producing a delectable range of sophisticated cacao treats. His Chef’s Black is sourced from Peru, Venezuela, and Madagascar and is perfect for both sweet and savoury dishes, providing an unexpected depth to sauces and gravy. Our customers love his chocolate; supplies of his delicious Apple Brandy Caramel Black Pearls are always in high demand, especially around the festive season.

Good as Gold

Picked out for a special mention by IndyBest was Willie’s well-known Pure Gold Bar. This indulgent and grown-up treat is, of course, made with 100% cocoa solids. The cocoa, sourced from Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela, allows for an intense tasting experience. Eating this bar has been compared to wine-tasting, due to the complexities of flavour that become apparent to any chocolate-lover. We love that IndyBest picked out this bar, which is one of our bestsellers, as an exemplar of the innovative and interesting products that Willie’s Cacao offers consumers.

Get In on the Action

Investing in chocolate supplies from a brand making headlines is a great way to draw more customers into your store, and encourages old customers to try something new. The intense flavours of these products may seem daunting to some, so make sure that you have a detailed knowledge of the brand and their products and that you can guide curious consumers through their purchases. Congratulations to everyone who contributes to these delectable treats!