It may seem crazy to come back from Belgium and tour a chocolate company in Florida, but that’s exactly what I did. You’d think I’d be setting myself up for disappointment, but to my delight, Whetstone’s chocolates were delicious.
Whetstone’s was founded in 1967 in St. Augustine, Florida — a place I associate more with oranges and grapefruit than chocolate. This family-owned artisan chocolate company shares their history and a tasting during their short factory tour.
First we donned hairnets, then entered the factory showroom where we were treated to a 4-tiered tasting of Whetstone’s dark chocolates, milk chocolate and white chocolate. I’m partial to dark chocolate myself, and loved the two cocoa-rich flavors I tasted. Menendez was my favorite.
You can see the foil-wrapped candies coming down the conveyor belt.
Then we walked into the factory and watched chocolates being handmade and wrapped. It reminded me of Lucy and Ethel’s day working at a chocolate company on I Love Lucy. I guess it was supposed to, because that’s how the tour ended: with a photo op alongside Lucy.
I can’t say Whetstone’s compares to the Belgian chocolates I’d feasted on the week before we went to Florida, but it was much better than most of the chocolate I usually taste at home. And frankly, any tour that includes tasting chocolates has to be good!
What’s your favorite chocolate brand?
So funny!
Yummy !! What a fun field trip this is. Don’t know why I’ve never stopped there.
Definitely worth a stop. I believe they take credit for the chocolate oranges I usually get at Christmas time. It’s one of my favorites delicacies.
Godiva chocolates and Lindt are high on my list, but my favourite bar is Coffee Crisp which is not available in the U.S.
Lindt truffles are my absolute favorite. I’ll have to look for Coffee Crisp bars when I’m traveling. It seems like we have similar tastes, and I love coffee, so this sounds like it will be a real treat.
I’m inclined towards dark chocolates too. I find them more satisfying. But one can’t be rude and turn down a tasting!
Exactly! Though I kinda wish I’d turned down the white chocolate. I don’t really like it, so why waste the calories?
I love dark chocolate the best, but will taste any chocolate as long as it is not spicy hot 🙂 Love the pic with Lucy – cute!
Thanks! I’m always on the lookout for Lucy connections, but this was a total surprise.
I don’t know if Cadbury’s are big in the US but their big factory in Birmingham (UK) is a must-visit. Back in the day it was also a favourite place for landing a school holiday job 🙂
I love Cadbury’s. I mostly associate them with Easter and their Cadbury eggs.
Yes, I’m a dark chocolate girl myself, too! I really miss nestles semi sweet chocolate chips, I love to eat them frozen straight out of the bag. What a great tour! I bet it smelled wonderful, too – I worked for m&m/mars for a while in NJ, never brought my lunch, just ate free m&m’s all the time, it was awesome, and I never got tired of driving into the plant and smelling the chocolate in the air… heavenly! ♥♥♥ ;^)
Oh my gosh. I can’t imagine how heavenly it would be to work in a chocolate factory! Or near one. Yum….
How fun! I’d probably get kicked out of there. : )
My fave chocolates vary because I’m always trying new organic chocolate at our CoOp. But now that I’m over here, I’m close to See’s, a place my mom and I always used to visit. Mr. H heard me brag about See’s for years and now he just surprises me with beautiful boxes of chocolates. SO much better than flowers!
I’m not sure whether I’ve ever had See’s. I’ll have to look for that.
It’s a West Coast thing. They were established in Los Angeles in 1921. They’re usually found in the malls over here, but it’s cool because there is a very old school atmosphere they keep alive.
Juliet seconds See’s, though being European she hates most American “candies” and doesn’t consider them chocolate.
Okay. Now I *have* to try these!
That’s amazing Juliann! We used to live in St. Augustine and Whetstone’s was our go-to place to tour when friends came to town. Their chocolate is great. I also fell in love with Chocolates Amatller when we were in Barcelona. Different, but delicious! 🙂 ~Terri
http://gallivance.net/2013/03/21/the-house-that-chocolate-built/
When they said they’d created the chocolate oranges that I devour every Christmas, I realized that I’ve been enjoying Whetstones chocolates for years.
I cribbed when our daughter insisted we take a long tube ride across Paris to pick up some Galler chocolates for her. But I was forced to admit that they were the best I have ever eaten, anywhere. His dark chocolate is especially great.
Another chocolate I’ll have to look for!