Multi award-winning, Dorset-based, independent, chocolatier Chococo, celebrating its 20th birthday this autumn, presents its iconic chocolate Advent Selection Boxes for 2022. One of the first, if not the first, artisan chocolate company in the UK to offer fine chocolates for Advent back in 2005, these boxes, containing 25 delicious and award-winning flavours, have become an annual best seller for Chococo and have led the way in enabling chocolate lovers to enjoy a fine flavoured chocolate once a day, rather than a cheap novelty chocolate shape!

All Chococo chocolates are handcrafted in Dorset by a principled bunch of chocolate lovers, led by founders Claire and Andy Burnet, all passionate about creating truly delicious chocolates which both taste good and do good.

There are two Advent Selection Boxes to choose from, the Classic Advent Selection Box and the Vegan Advent Selection Box. Containing NEW flavours, the boxes will be online at chococo.co.uk to pre-order from mid-September and the last order date for the boxes will be Tuesday 29th November 2022.

Lucky recipients will enjoy delicious flavours each day from 1st December to Christmas Day. Each box contains 25 chocolates, with a frosted, numbered sleeve and menu, so that the chocolates can be tasted in date order.

Chococo cares about the impact of its packaging on the environment and always has done – 100% of their packaging is plastic-free and is recyclable, compostable or reusable.

Chococo Advent Selection Box (£26)

The Classic Advent Selection Box contains 25 DIFFERENT flavours and included in this year’s selection are flavours such as NEW Dorset’s Conker Port Barrel Gin & Juniper in an oat m!lk chocolate centre, NEW Black Forest Gateau (with a kirsch-infused dark chocolate layer at the base, white chocolate in the middle & topped with Dorset-made sour cherry jam), Macchiato truffle, NEW oat milk Hazelnut Latte Cluster made with NEW oat milk chocolate and a new signature 72% Ecuador chocolate cluster studded with roasted salted almonds. It also includes Cherry Bakewell (pure almond butter blended with white chocolate topped with a Dorset-made sour cherry jam), Pedro & Prune (prunes steeped in Pedro Ximenez sherry) and rich buttery Molasses & Brown Butter Caramel – a 2022 Gold International Chocolate Awards (British) winner.

As the days get closer to Christmas, the chocolates get more festive including 2020 Silver International Chocolate award winning Spiced Rum, made with Exeter’s Two Drifters dark rum, multi award-winning Gingerbread Caramel and Tawny Port & Fig, with figs steeped in Noval’s 10 year old Tawny port. The final chocolate to enjoy on December 25th is Chococo’s Christmas Pudding Chococo-style – spiced praline, orange and popping candy for a festive fizz!

Chococo Vegan Advent Selection Box (£26)

Chococo is very proud of the selection of vegan-friendly chocolates in this box – 14 different flavours means only two repeats max which it thinks is pretty good compared to other advent offerings with many repeats!

Included in this selection are flavours such as the NEW oat milk Hazelnut Latte Cluster and the NEW signature 72% Ecuador chocolate cluster studded with roasted salted almonds, Speculaas Caramel (an oat milk caramel spiced with black pepper, nutmeg and cardamom), warming Pedro & Prune, spicy smoky Chilli Tickle Caramel, tangy Tangerine Dream (a soft orange-infused dark chocolate centre topped with a Dorset-made tangerine jelly and 2022 Bronze International Chocolate Awards (British) winner) and smooth Cashew Nut Butter. Also Included are Sticky Toffee Pudding (dates blended with dark chocolate and topped with a vegan-friendly sea salt caramel), classic marzipan, spicy crystallised ginger, crunchy honeycombe handmade with agave nectar, multi award-winning Tawny Port & Fig and suitably festive Spiced Rum, with raisins steeped in Two Drifters dark rum from Exeter, blended with Ecuador origin dark chocolate, cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. (vf)

Further information:

Chococo led the way back in 2005 in offering an advent selection box filled with proper chocolates for grown-ups and its Classic Advent Selection box has become an annual best seller and part of the ritual of the annual Christmas build-up for many Chococo customers.

All Chococo’s chocolate is sustainably sourced, from its Cocoa Horizons verified chocolate made with 100% sustainably sourced cocoa, including its bespoke 45% house milk chocolate made with Venezuela origin Sur del Lago cocoa beans, to Direct & Raisetrade chocolate produced in country of origin for Chococo by their partners Martinetti Cocoa in Ecuador, Luker Chocolate in Colombia and Chocolaterie Robert in Madagascar.

NEW for this year is Chococo’s 43% Colombia origin oat milk chocolate. This delicious plant-based, vegan-friendly chocolate is made in Colombia with fine fino de aroma cocoa beans and gluten-free oat powder for a rich creamy chocolate taste without the dairy. This chocolate is the first of several new chocolate grades Chococo is sourcing from their new direct trade partners, Luker Chocolate in Colombia.

Chococo also continues its direct trade partnership, working with Martinetti Cocoa in Ecuador to source their Hacienda Zoilita single estate signature 72% dark chocolate couverture, roasted cocoa nibs & 100% dark chocolate. Martinetti Cocoa is a small family-owned chocolate company making chocolate in the heart of the cocoa growing region of Los Rios in Ecuador. They buy their single origin heritage Arriba cocoa beans at a premium price direct from local cocoa farmers located close to their chocolate factory in Quevedo. Once made, the chocolate is shipped direct to Chococo who are very proud to be Martinetti’s first international customer for their couverture chocolate.

Chococo has been a pioneer in being one of the first UK chocolatiers to make truly fresh chocolates, with no additives or preservatives, with local ingredients. Championing local, seasonal produce is part of the DNA of Chococo and over the years they have worked with food and drink producers across the South West using local honey, sea salt, preserves, fruits, wines, spirits and cream to craft its mouth-watering and deliciously unique creations.

Chococo’s passion for flavour has resulted in them winning 112 fine food awards to date including; Great Taste Awards, International Chocolate Awards & Academy of Chocolate Awards.