K'Kao Chocolates

K'Kao - The Language of Chocolate is a secret chocolate factory found tucked away in an industrial estate in Sumner.

Open to the public on weekdays, the small boutique chocolate maker hand crafts volcanic, stone-ground, pure chocolate - from bean to bar.

Cacao beans are ethically sourced from the volcanic valleys of northern Papua New Guinea, slow roasted at a low temperature to preserve the nutritional value and full flavour, and stone-ground to create a smooth, rich chocolate. 

Step inside the massive warehouse where the magic happens, and into a tiny chocolate shop that's chock-a-block with chocolates and other confectioneries. There's something for everyone here including sugar-free, gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan chocolatey goodness. 

While the shop is small, the selection of chocolates on offer is huge, ranging from 100% dark cacao and milk chocolate to white chocolate made with pure cacao butter.   

There are chocolate bars in every imaginable flavour - Espresso dark chocolate with real coffee beans, Lime & Coconut, Turmeric & Ginger, Botanical Spices (cinnamon, nutmeg and clove), Chilli, Cashew, Burnt Caramel, Banana, Orange, Strawberry, Raspberry, Matcha and more. 

Plus, there's Rocky Road made with real freeze-dried fruits, roasted nuts, marshmallows and jelly jubes, Chocolate Bark with strawberries, pistachios, coconut and gold dust, and chocolate coated treats such as honey roasted macadamias, almonds, coffee beans, Buderim ginger, jelly beans, liquorice, honeycomb, sultanas, freeze-dried strawberries, and dried mango slices dipped in dark chocolate.

In addition, there's an array of petite, hand crafted chocolate truffles filled with hazelnut liqueur, chocolate gin, coconut liqueur, lemon gin, orange gin, caramel fudge, vanilla fudge, or caramel vodka to name a few of the delicious flavours on offer. 

K'Kao also offers a healthy option with their 500BC chocolates, inspired by the Mayans who are credited with inventing chocolate 2,500 years ago. The low sugar, dark chocolates come in four delicious flavours: orange and hazelnut; hazelnut and cinnamon; peanut, banana and cinnamon; and almond with Himalayan salt and cinnamon.

If you prefer your chocolate in liquid form like the Mayans, there's single origin hot chocolates including the award-winning 70% Dark Hot Chocolate and Milk Caramel Hot Chocolate, as well as dark drinking chocolates with chilli, coffee, strawberry and pink Himalayan salt, botanical spices, or banana and cinnamon. 

You'll also find seasonal treats, perfect for gift giving, from Valentine's Day and Easter (eggs, bunnies and bilbies) to Christmas, including hampers and their signature chocolate cards (a greeting card and chocolate bar in one).

By Deb Lidster

Images are from inside their previous location