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!

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.

Top 10 Chocolate Favors for Weddings and Showers – Part I

Big day approaching? In all likelihood, you, your family and friends have most of the wedding planning taken care of, so now you can move on to some of the fun details….like how to incorporate chocolate into the celebrations! The team at The Happy Chocolatier has compiled a Top 10 list that gives you some great ideas for how to include chocolate as favors for wedding or shower guests, thank you gifts, or as a fantastic addition to your dessert. Science and experience tell us that it’ll bring a little happiness to everyone!

1) Chocolate Lobster Table Favor – Planning a seaside wedding or event? One of our handmade milk or dark chocolate lobster pops makes a great addition to the napkin. Personalize with your own custom bow in your colors with the names and date!

2) Cubze 2- or 4-Piece Gift box – Brides and grooms love the concept of sharing their happiness with guests. Take it one step further with our signature truffle Cubze wrapped in gorgeous jewel-toned foils with an inspirational thought on happiness in each piece! They work well for a shower, rehearsal dinner or wedding favor.

3) Twin Chocolate Hearts – Two hearts coming together as one, just like the bride and groom! Milk, dark or white chocolate – pick your favorite or a combination and we can package them with a bow of your choosing.

4) Chocolate Roses – Another take on the chocolate lobster favor concept for those wanting something more traditional. You can choose the type of chocolate – milk, dark or white – and select a finishing bow to dress them up for the day.

5) Assorted Chocolates Favor – Are delectable sea salt caramels or truffles your favorite chocolate confection? We can make a chocolate cup and fill it with your preferred selection of chocolates. Again, customizable with a colorful monogrammed bow on the package.

These are just a few ideas to think about. Maybe one of them will spark a creative idea of your own! At The Happy Chocolatier, we can hand make chocolates in many different thematic molds and will work with you to create something that reflects the theme and tone of your wedding or event. Stay tuned for more great ideas in Part II. And remember, Happiness is like a kiss…you must share it to enjoy it!

Top 10 Chocolate Favors for Weddings and Showers – Part II

In our previous blog post, the team at The Happy Chocolatier gave you the first half of our Top 10 chocolate favors for weddings and showers. Here we’ll give you the low down on the second half of our ideas to incorporate chocolate into any of your celebrations. They’ll bring a little happiness to everyone sharing in your joy!

6) Seashells, Starfish and Sand dollars – For those planning a summery seaside wedding, our assortment of gorgeous seashells, starfish and sand dollars are a fantastic addition to your dining tables or dessert display. Choose your choice of milk, dark or white chocolate – or mix it up for color and varying tastes. Add an occasional foiled shell that complements your colors and you’ll be thrilled with the results! The finishing touch can be one of our ribbons or your own custom monogrammed ribbon in a color of your choosing.

7) Cubze, Our Signature Truffles – Simple but elegant, our signature Cubze are beautiful in jewel-toned foils. They add an extra element of happiness to your day with the inspirational thought on happiness wrapped up in each piece! A couple of our favorites: Happiness is like a kiss…you must share it to enjoy it and Some pursue happiness, others create it. Don’t take our word on how tasty these are, read what the Boston Globe and WBZ’s Jordan Rich have to say about them!

8) Chocolate Love Favor – Tuck one of these into the napkin and ring at each place setting at a Jack and Jill shower or at the wedding. They’ll add a contemporary flare to your celebration décor. You can choose the type of chocolate – dark, milk or white – along with the ribbon to accent each favor. If you would like to use a custom monogrammed ribbon to match your colors, we can assist you!

9) S’mores – A fun favor with a hint of summer for all your guests. One couple came in to look at our selection of chocolates and undecided, they purchased our handmade s’mores for the car ride home –the deal was sealed! The s’mores are made with graham cracker and marshmallow and hand dipped in milk chocolate. The bride and groom purchased small boxes for each pair of s’mores, bowed them and displayed them as favors for each wedding guest. They would also be a great treat to have placed in guest rooms at the hotel reserved for your wedding.

10) Chocolate Photo Frame – A great “thank you” gift for special guests or your bridal party that gives you the opportunity to share a photo of you and your beloved. Get creative! Beautiful and delicious in milk, dark or white chocolate, the frames can be gift boxed or presented in a clear bag with a ribbon.

Some excellent ideas are shared here and we have many others, as well. The team at The Happy Chocolatier can hand make chocolates in a variety of thematic molds and work with you to create something that reflects the theme and tone of your shower, rehearsal dinner, wedding or guest gift. Have an idea of your own? Give us a call or come in and we’ll be glad to work with you. Be happy. It’s one way of being wise.

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.

Habits of Happy People – A Perspective

A recent column from INC. Magazine provided a “scientific” view of what made people happy. It is an entertaining read: “9 Daily Habits of the Happiest People You Know According to Science.” While we don’t necessarily concur or embrace all of them, several did resonate with us at The Happy Chocolatier:

#5 They give their time and money away.

We think volunteerism and donating to good causes does indeed make one happy. In our experience it is always a good feeling to help another. So, we try our best within our means to give back to our community.

#6 They are grateful.

Focusing on what we are thankful for – even the small things – does indeed make us happier. Starting a small business and growing it despite many challenges makes us happy. Instead of focusing on the challenging problems, we think about the things that have gone well. From that, we have the energy and focus to work through the problems that inevitably arise.

Nothing brings us a smile – and consequently some happiness – than a short anecdote from a customer about how our chocolates brought someone a little bit of happiness. We are indeed grateful for the comments.

#7 They are more physically active.

While we aren’t out there running any marathon, we do believe that activity is good for the mind, body and soul. There is definitely a link between activity and happiness. Activity can express itself in many ways…from a nice relaxing walk in the woods to running around the shop during the busy season!

One more for good measure.

We would add one more “habit.” A small treat – in our case a truffle Cubze perhaps – each day can be a little respite from a busy day and provide a small bit of happiness.

Why Do Businesses Only Give Gifts at Year-End?

Businesses have reasons throughout the year to express thanks to business associates. Yet, generally businesses only send or give gifts at the end of the year. Why? This seems like a disconnect.

There are many reasons to give chocolates at various times during the year. Here are some ideas from our customers:

A professional services firm sends a box of chocolates along with a thank you note to clients who have recently completed a project.
A contractor sends a box of chocolates along with a hand-written note to customers at the completion of large jobs.
A designer/contractor personally presents our truffle Cubze to new customers at the initiation of a job.
A large corporation ordered chocolates to present a large chocolate buffet to employees. They chose a variety of chocolates and set them out on a buffet for employees during lunch. Employees were able to enjoy the chocolates and mingle with co-workers.

What we’ve heard from our business gift customers:

“My clients love your chocolates & so do I! I dropped off the chocolates at a few of my clients & received a call the same day saying how delicious they were!”

“Thank you – I’ve already received some great compliments.”

“Absolutely awesome … people loved them, as always!”

“I know for sure your chocolates will bring smiles!”

Why wouldn’t businesses want to have customers or employees feel this way throughout the year?

Here’s what we offer at The Happy Chocolatier:

Ongoing Mailing Program: Businesses provide us note cards which we keep on file. Once a week, we receive an email with a list of contacts to send the notes and chocolate selection. This is a very easy and affordable, yet memorable, way to say thanks to customers or a referral source.
Chocolate Buffets: Businesses work with us to develop a chocolate selection they think appeals to their employees. We provide the chocolates in bulk and they are set out in a common area for employees to enjoy. Or, we can take care of the whole process by bringing the chocolates and setting up the chocolate buffet.
Customized Chocolates and Packaging: To mark a milestone like a new product launch, company anniversary or sales achievement, businesses work with us to develop either a custom chocolate piece or a customized box of chocolates. These chocolates are presented to business associates at events or on a launch day.

So, if you really want to stand out and spread some chocolate happiness, give business gifts throughout the year. We’re happy to chat with you about what you can do and create customized gifts to meet your needs. You can reach us at (978) 429-8485 or info@thehappychocolatier.com.

Why Not Host a Chocolate Buffet at the Office in the Early Spring?

Everyone loves a great ice cream buffet in the summer. So in the winter and early spring when everyone’s cooped up inside and wishing for summer, why not surprise employees with a chocolate buffet? Choose some chocolates, spread them out in a common area and let employees enjoy. Or, surprise employees by placing small chocolate selections on each employee’s desk. These are both great low cost ways of spreading some cheer at the office or simply letting employees know you appreciate them.

Here are some ideas from our customers:

A large corporation ordered chocolates for a large chocolate buffet for employees. They chose a variety of chocolates and set them out on a buffet for employees during lunch. Employees were able to enjoy the chocolates and mingle with co-workers.
Here’s what they told us: “Everyone loved the chocolates and was excited to be able to pick out what they wanted. I think it was a big hit!”

A small office came in and purchased petite boxes of chocolate to leave on every employee’s desk.
Here’s what they told us: “The office loved the chocolates!”

A mid-size company worked with us to develop a custom box of chocolates and they then strolled around the company with a cart and passed out the chocolates to employees at their desks.

Here’s what we can do for your business at The Happy Chocolatier:

Chocolate Buffets: Businesses work with us to develop a chocolate selection they think will appeal to employees. We provide the chocolates in bulk and they are set out in a common area for employees to enjoy. Or, we can take care of the whole process by bringing the chocolates and setting up the chocolate buffet.

Customized Chocolates and Packaging: To mark a milestone like a new product launch, company anniversary or sales achievement, businesses work with us to develop either a custom chocolate piece or a customized box of chocolates. These chocolates are presented to business associates at events or on a launch day.

If you really want to let your employees know you appreciate them and spread some chocolate happiness, give us a call. You can reach us at (978) 429-8485 or info@thehappychocolatier.com.