Nicola's Chocolate
Member Overview
What is Nicola's Chocolate?
Nicola's Chocolate is an award-winning bean-to-bar chocolate maker based in Exeter, Devon, crafting ethical, small-batch chocolate entirely from scratch using carefully sourced cacao beans. Founded by Nicola Knight, a former teacher turned chocolatier and chocolate educator, the business is dedicated to creating exceptional chocolate while helping people understand the fascinating journey from cacao bean to chocolate bar.
Working in micro-batches, Nicola personally roasts, cracks, grinds, refines and tempers every batch by hand, creating distinctive chocolates that celebrate the natural flavour of fine cacao from around the world.
What does Nicola's Chocolate offer?
Nicola's Chocolate produces handcrafted bean-to-bar chocolate bars, hot chocolate flakes, seasonal collections, gift boxes and chocolate subscriptions. Every product is made using ethically sourced cacao and traditional craft chocolate-making techniques, allowing the unique characteristics of each cacao origin to shine.
Alongside its chocolate range, Nicola's Chocolate operates a working micro-factory, shop and education space in Exeter, where visitors can enjoy factory tours, chocolate tastings, workshops, family activities and hands-on chocolate-making experiences.
Our Specialities
- Bean-to-bar chocolate
- Single-origin chocolate bars
- Small-batch artisan chocolate
- Ethical chocolate production
- Handmade hot chocolate flakes
- Chocolate tasting experiences
- Chocolate-making workshops
- Chocolate subscriptions
- Seasonal chocolate gifts
- Masala Chai Dark Milk Chocolate
- Spiced Rum Cocktail Dark Chocolate
- El Salvador Dark Chocolate
- Oregano & Sea Salt Chocolate
- Made in Devon chocolate collaborations
Why Choose Nicola's Chocolate?
Nicola's Chocolate stands apart through its genuine bean-to-bar approach. Unlike many chocolatiers who start with pre-made couverture chocolate, Nicola crafts chocolate from whole cacao beans, carefully controlling every step of the production process to create exceptional flavour and quality.
The business is built on three core values: ethical sourcing, sustainability and education. Nicola works with responsibly sourced cacao from trusted farms and co-operatives, ensuring traceability and transparency throughout the supply chain. Her commitment to quality has been recognised with numerous Taste of the West awards, including Gold Awards and Champion Finalist recognition for several chocolate bars and hot chocolate products.
In addition to producing award-winning chocolate, Nicola is passionate about sharing knowledge through workshops, school visits, tastings and educational events that help people understand the craft and origins behind real chocolate.
Where Can You Find Nicola's Chocolate?
Nicola's Chocolate is based in Exeter, where customers can visit the micro-factory, shop and chocolate education hub to purchase products, attend events and learn more about the bean-to-bar process. The business also attends food festivals, artisan markets and special events throughout Devon.
Opening Hours
- Monday: 9:30am - 3:00pm
- Tuesday: 9:30am - 3:00pm
- Wednesday: 9:30am - 3:00pm
- Thursday: 9:30am - 3:00pm
- Friday: 9:30am - 3:00pm
- Weekends: Workshop, tasting and event availability may vary
- Extended hours are often available during school holidays and special events.
For chocolate orders, workshop bookings and enquiries, customers can visit Nicola's Chocolate online, attend one of the Exeter-based experiences, or connect through the business's website and social media channels.
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Contact Nicola's Chocolate
Contact Info
Where to find us
Frequently Asked Questions
What is bean-to-bar chocolate?
Bean-to-bar chocolate means Nicola's Chocolate makes its products directly from raw cacao beans rather than using pre-made chocolate. The beans are roasted, refined and transformed into chocolate entirely in-house.
Where is Nicola's Chocolate based?
Nicola's Chocolate is based in Exeter, Devon, where it operates a working micro-factory, shop and educational chocolate space.
What products does Nicola's Chocolate make?
The range includes artisan chocolate bars, hot chocolate flakes, seasonal gifts, subscription boxes and bespoke chocolate products.
Does Nicola's Chocolate offer chocolate-making experiences?
Yes. Visitors can enjoy chocolate workshops, tastings, factory tours and family-friendly chocolate-making sessions throughout the year.
Is Nicola's Chocolate ethically sourced?
Yes. Nicola sources cacao from responsible growers and co-operatives, prioritising ethical and sustainable sourcing practices.
Has Nicola's Chocolate won any awards?
Yes. Nicola's Chocolate has received multiple Food Drink Devon Gold and Platinum Awards and Champion Finalist recognitions for its chocolate bars and hot chocolate products.
What are Nicola's Chocolate's most popular flavours?
Popular flavours include Masala Chai Dark Milk Chocolate, Spiced Rum Cocktail Dark Chocolate, El Salvador Dark Chocolate and Oregano & Sea Salt Chocolate.
What are the opening hours?
The Exeter shop and micro-factory are generally open Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 3:00pm, with additional workshops and events taking place throughout the year. [food-and-d...hers.co.uk]
Can I book a chocolate workshop?
Yes. Workshops, tastings and educational experiences can be booked directly through Nicola's Chocolate.
Does Nicola's Chocolate sell gifts?
Yes. Customers can purchase gift boxes, seasonal collections, subscriptions and artisan chocolate bars, making them ideal gifts for chocolate lovers.
What makes Nicola's Chocolate different?
Its genuine bean-to-bar production, ethical sourcing, award-winning quality and focus on chocolate education make Nicola's Chocolate one of Devon's most distinctive artisan chocolate producers
Does Nicola's Chocolate offer chocolate subscriptions?
Yes. Nicola's Chocolate offers chocolate subscriptions, allowing customers to enjoy a regular delivery of handcrafted bean-to-bar chocolate throughout the year. Subscription boxes are a great way to discover new flavours, seasonal creations and limited-edition releases while experiencing a variety of ethically sourced, small-batch chocolates made in Exeter.
What is included in a Nicola's Chocolate subscription?
Chocolate subscription selections may include a curated range of Nicola's award-winning bean-to-bar chocolate bars, seasonal specialties and exclusive creations. The contents can vary throughout the year, giving subscribers the opportunity to explore different cacao origins and flavour combinations.
Are chocolate subscriptions suitable as gifts?
Absolutely. A Nicola's Chocolate subscription makes an ideal gift for chocolate lovers, food enthusiasts and those interested in ethical, artisan products. It offers the recipient an ongoing chocolate experience rather than a one-off gift. [shepherdshack.co.uk]
How do I sign up for a chocolate subscription?
Customers can sign up for a subscription through Nicola's Chocolate directly. Details of current subscription options, pricing and delivery schedules are available through the business's website and shop.
Why choose a Nicola's Chocolate subscription?
A subscription offers a convenient way to experience Nicola's handcrafted bean-to-bar chocolate on a regular basis while discovering unique cacao origins, award-winning flavours and seasonal releases. It is also an excellent way to support an independent Devon chocolate maker committed to ethical sourcing, sustainability and small-batch production.