10 Must Try British Chocolate Bars
The world of chocolate is undergoing a renaissance, and the UK’s bean-to-bar chocolate makers are playing an integral role.
While Britain has long been associated with iconic mass-market brands, a new wave of independent chocolate makers is reshaping the landscape, focusing on premium quality, ethical sourcing, and meticulous craftsmanship. Across the country, chocolate makers are redefining what it means to create a chocolate bar.
We’ve narrowed the field to ten uniquely British chocolate bars that showcase the nation’s growing reputation as a hub for exceptional craft chocolate. Whether you’re a connoisseur or a curious enthusiast, prepare for an exquisite journey through ingenious flavors, traditional delicacies, and reinterpreted classics.
Bullion Chocolate Whisky Nibs bar
Bullion Chocolate’s Whisky Nibs bar offers a refined union of rich cacao from Santo Domingo, Ecuador, and single malt whisky sourced from nearby Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery.
Made from bean to bar in Sheffield, this bar features whisky-soaked nibs that are sprinkled on the back of 70% dark chocolate. The cacao is expertly paired with the subtle warmth and smokey notes of the whisky, resulting in a bar that’s both indulgent and sophisticated. The sleek gold and impeccable design of the wrapper really adds to the excitement of this gourmet experience.
Chocolarder Wild Gorse Flower bar
Chocolarder's Wild Gorse Flower 50% Milk Chocolate is a revelatory bar that captures the essence of Cornwall's coastal flora. Handpicked in late spring from prickly hedgerows along rugged coastal paths, the vibrant yellow gorse flowers are steeped in cocoa butter, lending a warm coconut aroma to the chocolate.
Crafted from bean to bar in Chocolarder's Falmouth factory, this chocolate is made with cocoa beans from Öko-Caribe in the Dominican Republic. The result is a 50% milk chocolate with tasting notes of toasted coconut, hints of fudge, roasted nuts, and a subtle finish of red fruits.
Chocolate Tree Haggis Spice bar
Chocolate Tree’s Haggis Spice bar is a fun and delectable dark chocolate made with organic Peruvian cacao and gluten-free oats. The chocolate is infused with a blend of herbs and spices that includes pepper, coriander, nutmeg, thyme and rosemary.
Chocolate Tree is an award-winning craft chocolate maker based in Dunbar, Scotland. Known for producing exceptional bean-to-bar chocolate with a focus on sustainability and transparency, Chocolate Tree’s mission is to protect biodiversity, and to make a positive impact on people and the planet.
Dormouse Chocolate Bread & Butter bar
Dormouse Chocolates' Bread and Butter Milk Chocolate bar is a 51.5% milk chocolate made with rich and fruity cacao from Lachuá, Guatemala. Ground up inside the chocolate is browned butter and toasted sourdough bread, sourced from neighbouring Holy Grain bakery. This unique combination results in a caramelly crunch that's incredibly moreish.
Based in Manchester, Dormouse Chocolates are renowned for their award-winning, single-estate bean-to-bar chocolates. Founded by Isobel Carse in 2014, the multi-award winning company has gained recognition for its exceptional chocolate making, inventive flavours and commitment to transparency.
eXe chocolate Earl Grey Tea bar
Exe Chocolate's Earl Grey Tea with a Dash of Milk is a handcrafted 60% dark-milk chocolate bar that combines the rich flavors of El Salvadorian cacao with Earl Grey tea. Infused with black tea, bergamot oil, and orange peel, this chocolate offers a beautifully nuanced floral and citrus profile, complemented by a delicate sprinkle of blue cornflowers on the back of the bar.
Exe Chocolate is a bean-to-bar chocolate maker based in Exeter, Devon. Founded by Nicola Knight, the company specializes in handcrafted chocolates made in 5kg (or less) micro-batches. Every step of the process is handled with meticulous care to nurture and enhance the natural flavours of the cacao beans.
Luisa's Wild Rose bar
Luisa's Vegan Chocolates' Wild Rose Infused White Casholate is a luxurious, plant-based white chocolate bar. Infused with the delicate essence of natural wild rose and Madagascan vanilla, this creamy, cashew nut-based 'white casholate' is a novel and vegan alternative to white chocolate.
Luisa's Vegan Chocolates, established by Luisa and her daughter Isabella, is a Nottingham-based chocolate maker specialising in award-winning, bean-to-bar, and exclusively plant-based chocolate.
NearyNogs Soda Bread bar
NearyNógs' Irish Soda Bread chocolate bar is a 60% dark chocolate crafted with beans from from Kekeli, Togo. This proudly Irish creation incorporates gently toasted traditional Irish soda bread, adding a delightful crunch to the smooth, melt-in-the-mouth chocolate. It’s a harmonious blend of rich, chocolatey flavor and the comforting taste of soda bread, celebrating a cherished Irish tradition.
NearyNógs Stoneground Chocolate, established in 2011, is Northern Ireland's first bean-to-bar craft chocolate maker. Located on the Mourne Coast, the solar powered factory offers breathtaking views of the Irish Sea, Carlingford Lough, and the Mourne Mountains. Read more about NearyNógs.
Pump Street Eccles Cake bar
Pump Street Chocolate's Eccles Cake 55% bar is a modern twist on traditional Eccles cakes from Lancashire. Ground up within the 55% dark chocolate is flaky puff pastry, premium Vostizza currants, raisins, Armagnac, and a blend of spices. Cacao beans sourced from Hacienda Limon in Ecuador are used to create this singular bar that harmonises tradition and innovation, offering a sophisticated twist on a timeless classic.
Founded in November 2010 by father-and-daughter team Chris and Joanna Brennan, Pump Street began as a bakery in the village of Orford, on Suffolk's Heritage Coast. After mastering naturally leavened bread, they expanded into bean-to-bar chocolate making, directly sourcing single-origin cacao beans from estates and cooperatives worldwide.
Seed Chocolate bar
Seed Chocolate's Orange, Wild Fennel + Rosemary bar is part of a seasonal collection that combines micro-batch chocolate with foraged botanicals. This 60% dark chocolate is crafted from rare, native Peruvian cacao from the Amazon and Piura regions. The deep and nutty notes in the chocolate pair beautifully with the bright orange zest and fresh anise notes of wild fennel. This is chocolate for grown ups!
Seed Chocolate is an award-winning bean-to-bar chocolate maker based in Staffordshire. Founded by chef James Walter, the company is committed to crafting exceptional chocolate that celebrates the unique flavors of ethically-sourced cacao, alongside seasonal and foraged local ingredients.
Solkiki Pomona bar
Solkiki's 60% Somerset Pomona Dark Milk Salted Caramel bar is a decadent delight and a flavour revelation. Pomona is a traditional, barrel-aged blend of apple juice and cider brandy, and here it dances beautifully with a plant-based dark-milk chocolate, made with incredible Marañón cacao from Peru. The result is a deep and warming bar with nostalgic flavours of toffee apples and scrumpy cider.
Solkiki Chocolate is a vegan-owned and operated craft chocolate producer based in Dorset. They use cacao from some of the world's most exclusive estates, and have earned over 180 major international awards since 2016.
You can find a great selection of British craft chocolate on the Cocoa Runners website.