This artisanal chocolate shop has the best brownies in the world. And maybe that's because there is…read morelove in every step. Sustainably sourced from Ecuador, the cacao beans are fermented and ground locally in Dexter, then processed into the cocoa that is used to make the delicious brownies. But brownies aren't this store's main deal: the chocolate is center. Mendo's sells a variety of delicious dark and milk chocolates, as well as honey of the chocolate, which is the byproduct of processing the cacao into cocoa. It tastes like a delicious balsamic vinaigrette. The Dexter factory also offers tours and truffle and chocolate bar making classes. I have a friend whose birthday is coming up and I am going to take her to one of those classes.

77% hot chocolate with their homemade marshmallow? Chef's kiss! They have 77% or 100% so if you…read moredon't like bitter chocolate it make not be for you, but I loved the 77% I ordered with the marshmallow. They also have oat and almond milk in addition to whole milk.

We first discovered BonBonBon at a hip Valentine's craft fair at the Majestic Theater in 2019 and…read morewe've been hooked ever since. Their chocolate creations are not only delicious, but creative and unlike any other treats out there. Back in the day, it was not unusual for us to make a 40 minute drive into Hamtramck or Detroit to get a Bon fix, so you can imagine how excited we were as they opened more storefronts across Metro Detroit. The Ann Arbor store is my favorite because it's just a short lunchtime walk from work! This is a business that you can feel really good about supporting. Not only is their product top notch, but their practices prioritize quality, sustainability ,community and inclusion. It has been fun watching their tremendous growth over the last seven years and cheering them on from the sidelines!

Insanely cute chocolate shop down in Nickels Arcade [which is a tiny alley with an assortment of…read moreshops like a vintage store and clothing store]. They have an array of flavors of bon bons (chocolates with a filling inside) lined up behind the glass case including fudge brownie, peanut butter and jam, and much more unique combinations that I paid no attention to because i was enamored with the rest of the shop. They had all sorts of knick knacks, stickers (some were for free!), mini greeting cards, shirts, tote bags, cool shaped chocolates on the shelves. Each bon bon is $3.50 and it gets individually packaged in a tiny box. If you're feeling extra, you can buy a cute cardboard carrier case for your chocolate treasures ($2). Otherwise you can still get it packaged in a cute box for free (pictured). As for the actual bon bons: - The fudge brownie one had a deep chocolate flavor with only about 35% sweetness which was quite dismaying. - The PB&J one was sweeter which I liked and the jam added a bit of tartness. Comparatively, this bon bon had more complexity than the dark bitterness of the fudge brownie.

Didn't realize I could miss the constant crowds at Zingerman's in downtown Ann Arbor by going to…read morethis location south of the highway. The candy is delicious- though it's pretty fed as a premium product so be prepared! The cafe inside is great and there's a Bakery store down the way so you can enjoy sandwiches, pastries and delicious brownies!

I stopped by here when in A2 this past week, I was visiting the Bakehouse for a work article. We…read morehave recently written about the Candy Manufactory for work too so I was curious to actually see it! I've never actually had any of Zingerman's candy bars so I bought two full size bars, plus a small version of the Cashew Cow. I think both the Zzang and Peanut Butter Crush were equally good. The store also has non-Zingerman's brand candies, such as Venchi, which is also a high-end brand. The shop doubles as a coffee shop, as well, and I think may have also had some small food items, but don't quote me on that. Overall, I would return the next time I'm in town.

Just had the orange-pomegranate at the Farmer's Market. Great new flavor. The chocolates are always…read morefresh and I have used them many times as special gifts for colleagues. Highly recommend!

From the owner: Sweet Gem Confections specializes in exquisite chocolates and confections made from single sourced…read morecacao, organic and local cream, tea, fruits, herbs, and other exclusive ingredients from around the world.

We were visiting friends in AnnArbor and were downtown and wanted a treat after some shopping…read more They took us here which is a fave of theirs it's a really cute little shop with nice seating, French themed decor and a welcoming staff. The case of macarons was beautiful , multicolored rows of well labelled flavors. We each made some selections and ordered some drinks. Our hosts ordered a large French press pot to share. I had time to speak with staff about the last k of space for baking and how they arrived at so many flavors. They do not bake onsite but receive frozen shipments from the main bakery in Grand Rapids as handiest the Holland, Michigan store. They defrost enough each for each day so they never run out of flavors. They were some of best I have ever had. Nothing like what you might find in the bakery section of a grocer. This is an historic residential building retrofit with a nice conversion to retail without losing its charming brickwork. I will definitely return when next in Ann Arbor.

I've wanted to stop by but always had planned activities elsewhere. Until today…read more The shop is beautiful: exposed brick walls, small marble-topped tables, petite vases filled with flowers, sparkly chandeliers, and a garland of pink and white flowers. It's so appealing. The macarons displayed in the case were equally appealing. I don't recall all the flavors, but I had a tough time picking out flavors for my friend and, of course, something for me. I chose three macarons to enjoy at the shop: blueberry, coconut, and strawberry cheesecake. I liked the delicate crack of the macaron shells and the creamy, flavorful centers. Each sported a design to distinguish itself from the others further. I also had a piping hot Earl Gray tea along with these treats. Espresso, French and Italian sodas, and lattes are also available. Customers stopped in throughout my visit for a quick purchase or to savor their macarons at nearby tables. Service was disappointing.

I was wanting to get hot chocolate for the season and my husband had the great idea of looking…read morehere! It is a bit pricier and a tad more work to make, but it's definitely quality! One pack of shaved dark chocolate bits is $25. The employee was super helpful and also told us we could sample it next door! We went to try it and it was DELICIOUS!!! We were sold and bought one :0) I went home and made it immediately cause it was sooo good!! They have a recipe on the back but I think I messed up the measurement calculations :0p will have to play around but def love the flavor!!

This is a must visit place on your foodie tour around the city. The prices are a bit high, but it…read moreis always delicious. I love when they have their chocolate Twinkies, that is a treat. It smells so good in here, and I like just getting a tiny treat or two.

Got to sample their wines and that was fun!…read more I ended up using my $10 birthday coupon for their Omaamaayan wine that is sweet and has different notes of fruit. I can't wait to drink it!! The employee who helped us was nice and helpful! Gotta love Cherry Republic!

Overdue for an update now that they've expanded into the space next door. Hard to believe but it's…read moreeven better! The new space houses a wine tasting counter and a place for their beverages and a few other products. This lets the whole space breathe a bit more and gives for more elbow room during peak shopping times when it gets nice and crowded in there. High five for still offering plentiful samples. Right now we're big fans of the amaretto cherries in this house. Also the extra dark cherries! But honestly I don't think I've ever had anything here I didn't like. Proud to have them based here in MI!

This was such a unique experience. The staff was extremely friendly, very informative, and most…read moreimportantly, you can tell that they absolutely love what they do. The location itself is essentially a house. The entire business is spread across the different sections of the house. It's a bit unusual when you first walk in, but you very quickly grow fond of it, due to the ties that the business has to the family that started it, in that very house. The core is exactly what you would expect, very homey type of vibes. We received an educational session at the beginning. After that, we proceeded with the chocolate making experience. It was unlike anything that I've done in the past, and it was wonderful for myself and my coworkers who were there as part of a work retreat. We had a wonderful time, seeing the process behind the scenes and walking out with our own delicious chocolate bars that we made ourselves.

I attended a truffle making class and it was such a great experience! Before making truffles we…read morewere seated for a presentation on Mindo's history and their processes for making chocolate from Ecuador all the way to Dexter. There were plenty of samples throughout the presentation! You learn so much about chocolate and the process to make it. The truffle making process was fun and you get plenty of options for toppings to roll them in! I forget how many we were meant to make per person but there was enough for everyone to make quite a few extras and cute little boxes to place them in. Overall a really fun experience and Alicia was super knowledgeable, friendly, and funny throughout the whole process. They also have plenty of their chocolate for sale during and after the class. They have so many different types and flavors as well as lots of seasonal ones as well. Their chocolate is on the pricier side - but it truly is of exceptional quality and ethically made so definitely well worth it. Would definitely recommend doing one of their workshops/classes!