Author: pmcmahon

Wrapping Happiness into Every Truffle Cubze

The inside story: we literally wrap happy thoughts into every single one of our chocolate truffle Cubze. And, we do it one at a time by hand. WATCH THE VIDEO TO SEE THE PROCESS IN ACTION.

Each Cubze is wrapped in a colorful foil like a miniature gift. As you open each Cubze you’ll find an extra-large chocolate truffle and an inspirational thought about happiness. While savoring the chocolate you can enjoy the happy thought you found inside. You might even save the tiny thought and tape it to your mobile phone for inspiration. Chocolate and happiness all in one!

Take S’Mores Up a Notch

With fall comes s’mores: graham crackers and toasted marshmallows and chocolate. Mmm. Brings back memories of childhood (well, maybe a few more recent memories as an adult, too).

We took our s’mores up a notch to make them a really special dessert experience. We replaced the generic, run-of-the-mill chocolate bars with truffle Cubze. We just sliced the individial Cubze in two and then sandwiched the pieces with the toasted marshmallow between the graham crackers. Quite excellent! To make the experience even better…our guests were able to enjoy the inspirational thoughts about happiness that were wrapped into each piece. Some guests even took their witty little happy thoughts home with them for future inspiration and as a memory of our fun time together. 

We gave our guests a choice of dark chocolate: mint, orange, raspberry, sea salt or the original. For the milk chocolate lovers we offered: cappuccino, peanut butter and cookie. These were certainly delicious and memorable desserts. Give it a try!

Behind the Scenes Look: New Packaging

A behind the scenes photo of our photo session! We’ve been working on some new packaging for our gift collections. Based on customer comments, we’re introducing some new gift boxes that really showcase the colorfully foiled chocolate truffle Cubze inside. As one person put it, “you’re showing off all the little gift packages inside the gift box. What’s better than that!”

Keep an eye out for the new packaging “debut” on our online store this fall and in a retailer near you. If you want to see our truffle Cubze at a retailer local to you, email us or tell the retailer to contact us. We really do want to spread chocolate happiness with our happiness filled truffle Cubze!

June Is National Candy Month: “Share Some Chocolate Happiness!”

“For the month of June, join the National Confectioners Association in enjoying the authentic, fun treats that chocolate and candy companies have been producing for more than 100 years. National Candy Month is a moment to focus on the companies and individuals who make the treats many Americans enjoy throughout the year,” said John Downs, president and CEO of the National Confectioners Association.

Celebrate National Candy Month with something unique like our chocolate truffle Cubze wrapped with happiness wisdom inside. One treat for the palate and one for the soul!

Changing Our Business Model to Expand Wholesale Distribution of Truffle Cubze

We are excited to announce that we are going to focus on increasing the number of retail outlets that sell our unique chocolate truffle Cubze. In the coming months, we plan to put our resources into increasing awareness of the Cubze (with the inspirational happiness sentiments) and expanding distribution to shops throughout New England through our wholesale program.  

At the same time, we are a little melancholy as we will be closing our Acton retail shop. We are very thankful for the community support and many kind words over the last six years. It was a wonderful experience to be part of the Acton community.

Not to worry, you can still get our truffle Cubze by visiting one of the retailers listed on our “Where to Find Us” page:  www.thehappychocolatier.com/where-to-find-us/, or you may order direct from us through www.thehappychocolatier.com and by calling (978) 429-8485. In Acton, there are several retailers who are selling the Cubze – both individually and in gift collections.

For business gift programs and special events like weddings, showers, birthdays, etc. please email us at info@thehappychocolatier.com to discuss your needs.

Share Some Chocolate Happiness with Mom

Moms do so much for us. They spend their days with our happiness in mind. This year give mom a special treat that she will enjoy and remember! Some gift ideas from the team at The Happy Chocolatier:

An elegant gift box of our chocolate truffle Cubze. With happiness inspiration wrapped into each piece, it is like two gifts in one!

A solid chocolate jewel box filled with milk and dark chocolate sea salt caramels.

A full-size chocolate high heel filled with assorted truffles.

A solid chocolate candy dish accompanied by an assortment of fine truffles.

A pound of assorted chocolates pick by you and packaged in an elegant silver box with a bow by us.

 

Filling Easter Baskets & Feeding Those Less Fortunate

Chocolate bunnies have been part of the Easter tradition for a very long time. This year, we at The Happy Chocolatier will again add another element to the Easter chocolate and candy tradition: feeding those less fortunate.

Parents fill Easter baskets with chocolate bunnies and other treats every year. Easter Sunday is a time of joy as Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. It is also a time of celebration and fun for children as they awake to find their Easter baskets brimming with treats like chocolate bunnies, buttercream eggs, foiled chocolate eggs, jelly beans and much more.

This year when people purchase Easter chocolates and candy from The Happy Chocolatier, they will be adding another element of joy to the season. The Happy Chocolatier is going to donate a portion of sales from Easter candy purchases to Acton Community Supper and Food Pantry.

So, while we are all enjoying the holiday with our families, we can also know that a part of our Easter celebration helped to feed those less fortunate. Jesus did ask us to feed the hungry, right? Acton Community Supper and Food Pantry distributes 291,275 pounds of food to an average of 754 individuals each month. That’s a lot of families and we’d love to help them out.

So why IS chocolate part of the Easter tradition?

Every spring chocolate bunnies and chocolate eggs arrive in shops announcing the coming of Easter. But why?

In pre-Christian pagan times, spring was celebrated by giving thanks to the ancient goddess of fertility Eostre—from which “Easter” derived its name. Since the rabbit was recognized as a symbol of fertility and new life, it became associated with the rituals of Easter and spring.

According to the National Confectioner’s Association, Whitman’s Chocolates was one of the first American manufacturers to produce chocolate bunnies in 1842, but the popularity of the bunny mold didn’t pick up speed until the turn of the 20th century. In 1916, Bortz chocolate factory began mass-producing the creamy confection, and over the decades many chocolate makers began making their own version of the chocolate bunny. Today, more than 90 million chocolate bunnies are produced each year!

Many small chocolate shops like The Happy Chocolatier still make bunnies by hand. With the evolution of the chocolate bunny one will find many varieties to choose from – chocolate bunnies filled with everything from cookie pieces to jelly beans and M&Ms. However, the plain milk chocolate bunny remains the most popular version.

The method of biting into a chocolate bunny has become a tradition in itself. More than 75 percent of Americans go for the ears first. What do you do? Regardless of how you plan your first bite, one thing is for certain: Easter bunnies have become one of the sweetest parts of the springtime season.

Chocolate Easter Eggs

Eggs have been associated with the Christian festival of Easter, which celebrates the death and resurrection of Christ, since the early days of the church. However, Christian customs connected with Easter eggs are to some extent adaptations of ancient pagan practices related to spring rites.

The earliest Easter eggs were hen or duck eggs decorated at home in bright colors with vegetable dye and charcoal. Orthodox Christians and many cultures continue to dye Easter eggs, often decorating them with flowers. The Victorians had cardboard, ‘plush’ and satin covered eggs filled with Easter gifts and chocolates.

Chocolate Easter eggs were first made in Europe in the early 19th century, with France and Germany taking the lead in this new confection. milk chocolate bunnies, eggs and pops being made. Some early eggs were solid, as the technique for mass producing molded chocolate had not been devised. The production of the first hollow chocolate eggs was painstaking, as the molds were lined with paste chocolate one at a time. Well, this handmade tradition still exists in smaller chocolate shops like The Happy Chocolatier.

Chocolate eggs are produced in milk, white and dark chocolate and available in solid and hollow versions. Many times the hollow versions are filled with assorted Easter candy. In our shop, we have created a milk chocolate hollow egg and filled it with assorted Easter candies.

With the arrival of chocolate bunnies and chocolate eggs of many varieties, know that Easter and spring are not far behind!

What’s the Best Gift for Valentine’s Day? It’s Not Just Chocolate….

One might assume that, as chocolatiers, we would instantly propose our fine chocolates. While we think great chocolate – especially dark chocolate – is a close second for many reasons, the best gift may be to “give happiness.”

This Valentine’s Day consider giving your sweetie the simple gift of happiness. To do this, you must be happy. And to be happy, you must be joyful, appreciative and positive. Be thankful for your sweetheart, family and friends. Before you know it you’ll be happy and able to share that happiness. It sounds simple, but it takes a conscious effort.

Happiness is, indeed, contagious!

Back to chocolate. Chocolate can actually make you happy, according to numerous studies looking at the health benefits of chocolate. This article from The Washington Post provides a nice overview: “Why chocolate really is the secret to happiness.”

We do think that chocolate is a nice addition to Valentine’s Day. Perhaps the chocolates from The Happy Chocolatier might be a great way to highlight your gift of happiness in a fun way. Our signature truffle Cubze each come with a statement about happiness. Now for Valentine’s Day, our gift collections will also include an inspirational statement about happiness: “Love is the master key that opens the gates of happiness” – Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

A Day of Merriment to Support Beacon Santa

As we do for many of The Happy Chocolatier major holidays, we support a local charity. Again this year we will be donating a portion of sales from Saturday December 9, to Beacon Santa. This is our 6th year of supporting the work of Beacon Santa. It is another way for The Happy Chocolatier to spread some happiness.

Come in to make your purchases for Christmas on December 9, and help us help those less fortunate this holiday season.

The Acton Boxborough High School Madrigal Singers and Santa will be at the plaza from 11:00 to 12:00 to add to the fun!

The Beacon Santa Fund is a nonprofit organization administered through GateHouse Media New England, the Beacon’s parent company. Since 1965, Beacon Santa has helped families having trouble making ends meet provide holiday gifts for their children. Originally started through The Beacon, the fund now helps families in Acton, Bedford, Boxborough, Billerica, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Concord, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Maynard, Stow, Tewksbury, Westford and Wilmington.