Storing Chocolate

Storing Chocolates

Why should I care about how I store my chocolates?

Many of our filled chocolate bonbons are perishable because we make them with fresh dairy, simple ingredients, and no artificial preservatives. Plus, we use our own proprietary couverture chocolate with a high cocoa butter content which means our chocolate starts to soften at about 22 C. If allowed to get too warm, your delicious little chocolates will melt into a gooey mass, and you will have to scrape it out of the box and spoon directly into your mouth (but maybe that’s okay with you — we’re not here to judge).

Copper Boxes of Assorted Chocolates

The chocolates found in our Copper Boxes and from our Chocolate Case are best enjoyed fresh, soon after purchasing. Should storage be required, they can be stored in a sealed plastic bag or container in a cool, dry place not above 20-22C / 68-70F for up to 14 days and away from strong odours (chocolate absorbs odours easily). Please refrigerate to maintain freshness and please enjoy within 14 days of purchase. Allow to warm at room temperature for about 20 minutes before enjoying (you'll thank us later). If longer storage is required, you can freeze your chocolates — read below for instructions "Freezing Chocolates". 

Chocolate Collections

Please refrigerate (in a sealed container or bag in your refrigerator is best — for up to 14 days and away from strong odours) to maintain freshness and please enjoy within 14 days. Allow to warm at room temperature for about 20 minutes before enjoying so that the full flavours of the bonbon can emerge. If longer storage is required, you can freeze your chocolates — read below for instructions.

Advent Calendars: 

Our Advent Calendars are full of award-winning chocolates that all have a durable life date (shelf life) of minimum 2 months. 

• For long storage (more than 2 weeks before December 1) use the Freezer: You can store your Advent Calendar in sealed plastic bag in your freezer for up to 6 months. In a 2-step process, let thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours in the sealed plastic bag before enjoying on December 1. Thawing slowly in the sealed plastic bag in the fridge helps prevent moisture damage called Chocolate Bloom.
• For short storage (less than 2 weeks before December 1) use the Fridge: Place Advent Calendar in sealed plastic bag in the fridge before removing and enjoying on December 1. Allow your first chocolate to come to room temperature for 20 minutes for the full flavours to emerge.

Solid Chocolates - bars, shavings, molded items

Store solid chocolate - like bars, shavings, chocolate drops, molded items, chocolate Yule log shells, and chocolate Easter Egg shells -  in a cool dry location for up to 12 months. You can also put it in a sealed freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to a year or more. Solid chocolate is very stable. If you notice greyish or whitish streaks on your chocolate, it could be Chocolate Bloom, which is perfectly fine. 

Our Recipes blog has many excellent ways to use up any extra chocolate!

Chocolate Bloom

If your solid chocolate looks scuffed, or streaky, or has mottled whitish marks on the surface, then that is evidence of something called  "chocolate bloom". Chocolate bloom is one of two types: fat bloom, caused by changes in the fat crystals in the chocolate; and sugar bloom, due to crystals formed by the action of moisture on the sugar. Chocolate that has "bloomed" is still safe to eat, though it might look a bit odd. Go ahead and enjoy it!

Freezing Chocolates

Did you know you can freeze your chocolates? It's true!

Filled Chocolates (bonbons): 

Simply pack bonbons in an airtight bag or container and place in the freezer for up to 6 months or a bit longer. Thawing them properly is important. In a two stage process (which will help maintain the quality of your product)

1. in a sealed bag or container, thaw the selected chocolates in the fridge overnight, and then
2. allow chocolates to warm to room temperature for 20 minutes, before enjoying.

To fully experience its flavour and texture, our chocolates are best enjoyed at room temperature. If stored in a cool place, like a fridge, we recommend placing your chocolates at room temperature at least 20 minutes prior to enjoying (you’ll thank us later).

Solid Chocolates - bars, shavings, molded items:

If you'd like, chop bars or molded items (including Santas, Easter Bunnies, chocolate Yule log shells, and chocolate Easter Egg shells) into small pieces to make storage easier. You might like to store specific small quantities in bags to make them convenient grab-and-go portions when you need 1 cup of chocolate for a recipe. To thaw, palace the selected solid chocolate pieces in the fridge for 1-2 hours, and then to room temperature for baking or melting.

Our Recipes blog has many excellent ways to use up any extra chocolate!