Stephanie P.
Yelp
This small Pioneer Square chocolate shop is a bit off the beaten path, but worth hunting down if you like free samples, tasty truffles, and cool wall art!
It was a little early in the day when we walked in, but I wasn't going to say no when they offered a free chocolate tasting. They have it set up in a fancy wooden case and take you through a rotating selection of five flavors, explaining what makes each one special and what you're tasting. They offer a small cup of tea to cleanse your palate between samples, too. We really liked the orange and peppercorn truffle, which had a bit of a kick, and the loomi truffle, made with dried limes, which had a strong, bright citrusy flavor.
You can buy small $2 truffles individually, or a box of 12 for $22. They also sell $9 bars, which are relatively big -- the same amount of chocolate as maybe 5-6 truffles, so it's a better value if you want just one flavor. They have a rotating list of truffles on any given day and they encourage you to check their Twitter feed for the day's flavors if you have your heart set on something in particular.
The store also carries coffee beans, cacao nibs, flavored sugars, loose leaf tea, hot chocolate mix, and chocolate bars from other brands. You could easily put together a very nice gift basket here for a hostess gift or your favorite chocolate lover!
My other favorite part of the shop was the Instagram tile art wall. Most of the back wall is covered with a mosaic of photos mounted on small wooden squares, depicting a variety of Seattle landmarks, Washington-themed images, or just fun and colorful photos. For a $3 charitable donation, you can take home the tile of your choice. I saw one of a local character, a guy who wears a coonskin cap and furry vest and has a long-haired shoulder cat, and knew it had to be mine. These would make a great Seattle souvenir and are worth a stop just by themselves!
Sure, it can get a little spendy once you start picking out tiny truffles and fancy beverages, but if you're looking for a fun experience and unique flavors you might not find anywhere else (prune chocolate, anyone?), you'll find this shop quite intriguing.