Originally posted by IN Noosa Magazine, September 2024.
What do you get when you cross local, seasonal fruits with divinely decadent handcrafted chocolate? A mouthwatering Noosa Chocolate Factory cocoa-licious creation of course! Jodie Cameron visits the Noosaville factory to unwrap the delicious story behind the array of local fruits that feature in the award-winning range of chocolates…
I first stumbled upon Noosa Chocolate Factory circa 2011, while pounding the pavements of George Street on my lunchtime dash to the Jan Power’s Farmers Markets. Intrigued by the commotion around one particular stall, I tippy toed around the cluster of spectators to discover the biggest slabs of rocky road I had ever seen! That image stuck with me and,
13 years on, I am still a Noosa Chocolate Factory chocoholic and regular visitor to the Noosaville Factory or Sunshine Plaza store. From whole fruits like giant freeze-dried Queensland strawberries to indulgent cocoa white, milk and dark dreamy slabs infused with natural fruit oils, our abundant Queensland growers provide many of the fruity flavours in their delectable range.
Established in 2009, Noosa Chocolate Factory have been crafting chocolate for over 10 years from their purpose-built factory in Noosaville where the magic happens daily! Their premium handcrafted range is the epitome of luxe, and when paired with the delicious flavours of Queensland, it’s a cocoa match, made-in-heaven!
Noosa Chocolate Factory General Manager Nick Southon says showcasing Queensland’s iconic flavours is where their roots began because they have always firmly believed in supporting local suppliers.
“We don’t buy from big wholesalers and our unique flavour combinations are a testament to supporting local suppliers, many of whom have been with us from the beginning,” Nick said. “All fruits react differently, so naturally the addition of fruit can alter the process, but the outcome is always the same – a superior product that is unique in flavour, size and consistency.”
Noosa Chocolate Factory are sticklers for quality, and their hands-on process ensures their product is always being monitored, with a view of where the fruit is sitting so it can be hand-stirred wherever there are pockets in the fruit, to produce a consistent and aesthetically pleasing product.
“There are four sets of eyes that go over anything in the factory and everything is handcrafted the old-fashioned way with original recipes so we tend to have very few, if any, complaints about quality,” Nick says.
Having consumed my fair share of Rocky Road over the years, I am excited to sample some fruity goodness, starting with the Pineapple Jelly Slab! Featuring Noosa Chocolate Factory’s famous in-house jelly, I am not prepared for how delicious this combination is, with tangy pineapple jelly chunks made with fresh Queensland crushed pineapple encased in 70% cocoa dark chocolate – it is the perfect balance of bitter and sweet, and has me reaching for more!
Local strawberries feature heavily in their berrylicious range, but when the Queensland season is slow or impacted by weather, Nick says they purchase from a larger supplier in Victoria who uses a co-op of growers from around Australia.
White chocolate is my absolute fave, and the oh-so-pretty Smashed Strawberry and Smashed Raspberry Slabs with 29% cocoa white chocolate and zesty aromatics immediately make my taste-buds stand to attention! Freeze-dried to perfection in Bundaberg, the berries are powdered in-house, and the vibrant pink hues, real pips and intense fruit flavours are guaranteed to convert any non-white chocolate fan.
“Freeze-dried fruit undergoes a process to remove nearly all of its moisture, while still retaining its natural flavour and nutrients,” Nick explains. “There is nothing added; the flavour profile of fruit cannot change any more than what it would from being in the sun, so the inclusion of the fruit becomes a really important part of the product – in fact, it makes the product.”
Bear with me while I put a giant Queensland Whole Strawberry to the test! The fruit stays encased in the whole chocolate, breaking in half to reveal a strawberry that’s almost too pretty to eat. The super light and crispy outer layer blends impeccably with the chewy inner texture of the flavour-packed strawberry – like it’s just been picked from the patch!
“The only issue we have with using natural ingredients is that they can lose their colour quite quickly over time because they aren’t dyed, you can see how real the flavours are because of the pips,” smiles Nick.
Their famous new season Whole Sunshine Coast Macadamias in 29% cocoa white, and 36% cocoa milk chocolate are maca-licious, and I remember the first time I tried a Mango Macadamia ball, it floored me because it tasted like I had eaten a mango, without the juices running down my arm! The authenticity of the infused mango oil set amongst the whole macadamia is the perfect combination of nutty goodness, subtle sweetness and a perfect roasted crunch.
“We are fortunate to live along one of the largest macadamia nut corridors on the east coast, from the Glasshouse Mountains to Bundaberg, Queensland is the macadamia capital of Australia so there is no shortage of these Queensland natives,” Nick says. “The macs are a fabulous Queensland nut, as are Kingaroy peanuts which are roasted to perfection and folded through our delicious caramel brittle, which is an old fashioned brittle made with Queensland butter.”
Sourced from growers across Queensland, every piece of the Roasted Hazelnut Slab is loaded with freshly roasted whole hazelnuts! Set in 36% cocoa milk chocolate and packed full of healthy omegas, the creaminess of the cocoa milk blends seamlessly with the distinct butteriness of the hazelnuts to provide an enjoyable earthy aftertaste.
Seriously, was I nuts to think I could choose a favourite? The Mango Macadamias and Whole Strawberries definitely left the biggest impression on my palate, but what’s your fave? Head to Noosa Chocolate Factory and let your taste buds decide. Good luck, may the cocoa-force be with you!
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