Are you looking to purchase locally made chocolates for this upcoming Valentine’s Day? At BC Farmers’ Markets, we love celebrating our vendors. Two exceptional chocolatiers, Living Lotus Chocolate and Uncouth Chocolate, have built their brands around ethical sourcing, small-batch production, and a passion for creating unique flavours. Their dedication to the craft makes their confections a must-try for any chocolate lover. Read on to learn more about them!
Living Lotus Chocolate – A Passion for Pure, Ethical Indulgence
Living Lotus Chocolate offers a unique and artisanal approach to chocolate making. What sets this company apart is not just the quality of their products, but the genuine passion behind their bean-to-bar philosophy. Founded by chocolate maker and entrepreneur Audrey Wong, Living Lotus has been creating handcrafted vegan chocolate for over a decade.
Unique Approach to Chocolate Making
Living Lotus Chocolate stands out in a crowded market by staying true to a simple yet powerful philosophy: create chocolate from scratch with only three ingredients. While many other chocolate makers simply melt pre-made chocolate, Living Lotus takes the extra step of making the chocolate themselves, starting with raw cacao beans that are carefully sourced from ethical producers. The result is a product that is not only healthier, free from artificial additives and preservatives, but also more sustainable and flavorful.
The process begins with the arrival of cacao beans from their origins. These beans are cracked, winnowed, and stone ground in a malinger for a minimum of two days. After the grinding process, the chocolate is aged anywhere from two weeks to two months, ensuring the flavours develop to perfection. Once aged, the chocolate is tempered, molded, wrapped, and packaged—ready to delight the senses.
Limited-Edition Creations and Seasonal Specials
Living Lotus Chocolate regularly releases limited-edition flavours, often inspired by seasonal ingredients or new techniques. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, they’ve introduced three unique chocolate flowers in flavours like Strawberry Oat Milk, Raspberry Rose White Chocolate, and Dark Berry Victoria—a 70% Peruvian dark chocolate infused with black tea, lavender, rose, and vanilla.
Where to Find Living Lotus Chocolate
This winter you can find Living Lotus Chocolate at the Winter Riley Park Farmers Market (February 1st, 22nd, and March 15th) and the Winter Kitsilano Farmers Market (March 2nd and April 13th). For those who can’t make it to the markets, their full range of products is available online at www.livinglotus.net.
Whether you’re indulging for a special occasion or treating yourself, Living Lotus Chocolate offers a delightful experience with every bite—combining purity, flavour, and sustainability into the perfect chocolate bar.
Uncouth Chocolates – A Sweet Beginning at Farmers Markets
Uncouth Chocolates, a beloved artisan chocolate maker from Victoria, began its journey in the heart of farmers markets’. The story starts with founders Heidi and Stephanie, who, before launching their business, were dedicated farmers’ market shoppers. Their passion for craft chocolate and their love for local markets led them to start selling their creations in 2015. “Farmers’ markets were the absolute perfect place for our little chocolate business to start out,” Heidi recalls. With low barriers to entry and a ready community of curious customers, they were able to experiment, learn, and refine their offerings.
The Uniqueness of Uncouth Chocolate
What sets Uncouth apart from other chocolatiers is their focus on simplicity. The duo creates small-batch chocolates using just two main ingredients: cocoa beans and cane sugar. They don’t add cocoa butter, and their process doesn’t include the traditional conching technique, which means their chocolate is less melty, more flavourful, and maintains a distinct texture. They’ve even perfected the art of “chewing chocolate,” with roughly ground cacao that bursts with flavour, providing a truly unique experience. “No two bean-to-bar chocolates will ever be exactly the same,” says Heidi, emphasizing the organic and constantly evolving nature of their craft.
Local Ingredients, Local Love
Uncouth Chocolates also places a strong emphasis on local sourcing. Many of their most popular products incorporate BC-grown ingredients, including raspberries, spruce tips, and wild thimbleberries. Their signature bonbons are a particular standout: both dairy and vegan varieties are available, with the vegan bonbons offering a rich, creamy ganache unlike anything else on the market. “Our proprietary process creates a luxuriously smooth and creamy ganache,” Heidi shares, “just because you can’t have dairy doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy ridiculously creamy and delicious bonbons.”
From Hobby to Full-Time Craft
Though their chocolate journey began with small-scale experimentation at home, the business quickly grew. By 2018, Heidi and Stephanie both left their day jobs to focus full-time on Uncouth. Their commitment to innovation and high-quality chocolate-making has led them to develop a variety of flavour profiles and products, including limited-edition seasonal offerings and a growing retail presence. With their recent move to their own commercial kitchen – affectionately called the Chocolate Studio – Uncouth is ready to continue growing.
Valentine’s Day at Uncouth Chocolates
For chocolate lovers looking to indulge this Valentine’s Day, Uncouth Chocolates offers a delightful array of exclusive seasonal creations. Their Valentine’s Day collection features rich and romantic flavours like Raspberry Rose (made with BC raspberries and Turkish rose essence), Cinnamon Heart (infused with Tofino Beach Fire cinnamon liqueur), and Passionfruit Cream. They also offer thoughtfully curated box sets that make for the perfect gift. Each treat is crafted with care, ensuring that this Valentine’s Day is full of decadent sweetness and unforgettable flavours.
Where to Find Uncouth Chocolates
If you’ve visited the Esquimalt or Moss Street Farmers Markets, you may have already enjoyed a taste of their decadent creations. If you’re on Vancouver Island and you can’t make it to a market, you can find Uncouth’s products at The Chocolate Project, Chocolat & Co. in Victoria, or directly at their Chocolate Studio in Fairfield.
Support Local, Savour the Difference
Both Living Lotus Chocolate and Uncouth Chocolate showcase the incredible craftsmanship that thrives at BC Farmers’ Markets. Their commitment to ethical sourcing, innovative flavours, and small-batch techniques makes their chocolates truly special. Whether you’re searching for the perfect Valentine’s Day gift or simply indulging in a treat for yourself, be sure to visit these talented chocolatiers and experience the depth of flavour that comes with locally crafted chocolate. Supporting local never tasted so sweet!