Skelligs and Cocoa Bean Chocolate Company

Chocolatier Ireland - Artisan Chocolate Makers

Finding the most westerly chocolate factory in Europe is not as difficult as you might think. Just follow your nose, and pretty soon, the aroma of sumptuous chocolate heaven will bring you right to the door, just in time for tasting! The Skelligs Chocolate Company and Cocoa Bean Chocolate Company have their production factory and shop on the tip of the Ring of Kerry Peninsula, right by St Finian’s Bay. On a good day, you can look out of the shop window and clearly see the Skelligs Islands five miles out to sea. The bay itself has a golden beach, superb for a walk on a sunny day in winter or summer, just a stone’s throw from the factory door. It’s a stunning spot, and the perfect place to eat and buy stunning handmade chocolates like these.

Company owner Colm Healy bought the long established business from the original owners/creators a few short years ago. Since he’s been in charge, production has gone from strength to strength, the range increased, and he has also had the good sense to incorporate another artisan chocolate company into the fold. Cocoa Bean Chocolate Company, created and still run by sisters Sarah Hehir and Emily Sandford, has now joined ranks with Skelligs to provide a superb range of contemporary and traditional handmade chocolates from finest ingredients.

Skelligs chocolates were created for the luxury market. These truffles use best chocolate from France and Switzerland, married with superb quality ingredients in the flavoured centres. Regulars on the choccie tasting menu include Vanilla Ganache, Strawberry and Champagne and Cognac and Cappucino. In summer, try the delightful Lemon truffle in white chocolate, or tropical Tequila Sunrise in milk chocolate. Winter brings warming flavours like Irish Coffee and Hot Toddy with Chilli. Truffles come in luxury packaging, including the collectors wooden tubs and boxes hand painted by local artists, depicting the area seascape or countryside scenes. New mums will love the ‘baby boxes’, hand painted in pink or blue and with three clouds for baby’s name, date of birth and weight, which make a super keepsake after the choccies have all gone!

The Cocoa Bean range is more contemporary, created by Emily and Sarah, who originally sold them through farmer’s markets. The girls favour wild and whacky flavour combos – adults love Dark Chocolate Gin and Tonic or Lime and Black Pepper, while kids like White Chocolate Raspberry or Milk Chocolate Rose and Pistachio – available in dinky 20g bars or a generous 75g size. Again, seasons are reflected. At Christmas we absolutely loved the Dark Chocolate Christmas Tree, scented with the heady aroma of Norwegian Spruce, ginger, and Clementine zest. Who dreamed that up?! 

Visit the shop from February through to December, and enjoy the experience of watching chocolate makers at work in this real live Willy Wonka setting. Walls are painted with a colourful mural and everywhere you look, you’ll see chocolate being twirled into fillings, swirled onto truffles and poured into moulds. The air in here is heady with aromas, and you really won’t know which ones to buy. Lucky then you can have a mixture, handpicked specially to your taste. And of course, you can try them first. Cold drinks also available, to be enjoyed at the garden benches outside on a sunny day. Corporate gifts, celebrations and weddings are catered for with customised packaging made with specific designs and logos. Find both ranges in a variety of shops countrywide, including fellow Good Food Ireland members Caviston's Food Emporium in Glasthule, Co Dublin, Country Choice in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, Jacks in Killorglin, Co Kerry, The Burren Smokehouse in Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare, The Burren Perfumery, Carron, Co Clare, Urru Culinary Store, Bandon, West Cork, and in the English Market, Cork city. A worldwide mail order service is also available.

Contact Details

To Contact a Member Directly, please click on the email or website below

St Finian's Bay
The Glen
Ballinskelligs
Co Kerry
+353 (0) 66 9479119
Email: info@skelligschocolate.com
Web: www.skelligschocolate.com

 

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