Raaka Chocolate

We had such a wonderful afternoon at Raaka Chocolate in Brooklyn! The bean-to-bar class was absolutely fantastic — fun, educational, and hands-on from start to finish. The staff were knowledgeable, friendly, and made the experience extra enjoyable. We learned so much about the chocolate-making process while also creating (and tasting!) our own delicious chocolate. Highly recommend this class to anyone visiting Brooklyn or looking for a unique and memorable experience. Thank you, Raaka team, for such a sweet day! 🍫✨

5 Stars! Raaka is a chocolate lover’s dream come true! I got to make my own chocolate from scratch, and it was such a fun, hands-on, and educational experience. From roasting the beans to pouring my own custom bars, every step gave me a deeper appreciation for the craft. The staff was welcoming, passionate, and made the process easy to follow. I walked out with delicious, handmade chocolate and unforgettable memories. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a sweet and unique adventure!

I learned about this local Brooklyn chocolate shop when I received a gift from a friend in Chicago that had their delicious hot chocolate cubes. I bought a ton of bars plus the double dark chocolate hot chocolate powder for valentines day and I got rave reviews on that gift. Sooooo I decided to take a Bean to Bar chocolate making class. It was a ton of fun and we learned so much about chocolate making. It is so detailed that it is a 3.5 hour class. Our instructor was patient and knowledgeable and we left with 2 bags of mini chocolate bars that we made ourselves. All the chocolate is vegan and single sourced. I chose to make mine with nibs from Tanzania. Absolutely delicious!

Wonderful chocolate — I find the fruitiness lovely, and appreciate that Raaka is always pushing the boundaries with flavor. Highly recommend joining their monthly chocolate subscription to literally get a taste of this :) (gazpacho-flavored chocolate anyone?? I loved that one). Once you get used to their absolutely luxurious dark chocolate, almost all other chocolate falls flat. Their classes in Red Hook are also so fun — I recently took the ice cream-making class and left with 4 pints! Most importantly, I love their ethical sourcing. Cocoa can be an immoral industry and I’m so happy to support a company that’s doing it right. All-in-all: a stellar experience from the grocery store to the factory!

We did the bean to bar class. It was definitely worth the money! A very fun, unique, and educational process.

This place is amazing. We went to the coffee cupping class for our anniversary. My girlfriend is allergic to nuts and soy, but she was perfectly safe trying all the chocolates. We loved the class. I also am meh on dark chocolate and black coffee but loved the class. Esteban was awesome. Valerie was amazing. And Z was super cool and helpful as well. 10/10 strong recommendation

The bean to bar chocolate making class was a blast! The instructor (Esteban) was fantastic, not only were his instructions clear and easy to follow but he was also extremely knowledgeable and shared interesting facts throughout the process. We were also very satisfied with the amount of chocolate we produced and got to take home (about 50 mini bars) as well as the tastings we got to do throughout the day :)

Took the bean to bar class and it was super fun! SO COOL Chef Esteban was really nice, knowledgeable, and generous with his patience. Loved hearing about the process from start to finish and all the thoughts that go into the process. It didn’t feel like a very long class. Time did fly by and Esteban was attentive during our individual work. Only time it felt slow was waiting for others to finish a process where there was only one machine or during a demonstration. That’s really the only reason the class has some length to it I think. Great for couples, groups, or even individuals if you really love chocolate and want to learn. Worth the price and want to take a different class they offer :)

Took my mom here as part of her birthday celebration after visiting another chocolate factory elsewhere in Brooklyn. Cool little shop with lots of different flavor options to sample. I really appreciated that they seemed to offer samples of nearly everything for sale in the shop, including limited or seasonal flavors. This was especially appreciated because the other company we visited had very measly samples of only one base flavor, and when you're about to drop ~$8 on a bar it's nice to know what you're getting into first. Plus, when you go to a high end chocolatier, you want a variety to explore as the flavor adventure is a large part of the experience. Their tasting room employee, Valerie, was very welcoming and was able to answer our questions about how their products were made. We would've liked to have seen more of the factory from the tasting room, but it looked like that ability is reserved for private tours or classes (the only reason I'd give this 4 stars). *I had seen an offer of cheap tours online somewhere which originally inspired this trip, but that might've been outdated info after all. Nonetheless, really nice experience, and good enough that I would consider purchasing a special class session as a gift to someone in the future.

The bean to bar class is super fun and informative - highly recommend for a fun weekend activity. Learned a lot about chocolate making and interacted with some cool people who were also taking the class!

Wrapped up the year with a delightful truffle-making and chocolate-tasting class at Raaka Chocolate--complete with wine or coffee pairings! The 2.5-hour class was an absolute treat. The instructor was knowledgeable, warm, and effortlessly funny. He broke everything down step by step, making it easy to follow along while keeping the vibe light and fun. One of the best parts? Sampling chocolate straight from the fountain (there's a clip in the video--I couldn't resist!). It was hands-down my highlight as we crafted our own truffles.

My parents were in town visiting and wanted to come here, we looked up the hours and came across Brooklyn to visit. When we arrived at 4:50 there was a sign on the door saying they were closed and would be back at 5:30. We waited and they never reopened. We tried knocking on the door and calling the number and ringing the bell. We were extremely disappointed.

My girlfriend and I took the "Bean to Bar" class. This was a 3 hour class that covered every aspect of making chocolate, including bean selection, separating and grinding the nibs, combining and mixing sugar and cocoa butter, rolling, tempering, and finally molding the chocolate. Our class had 8 people working in pairs, though it looked like there was room for 10 people. The small class size was great so we could get individual attention as we worked and we could all ask questions. The instructor was very helpful and informative. The class was $115/person, which seems quite pricey at first. However, its a full 3 hour class with specialized equipment and an experienced teacher. Plus you get to sample chocolate the whole time and you end up taking ~2lbs of your own chocolate home with you. In the end, it works out to be a pretty reasonable price for a full afternoon activity. We had a ton of fun taking the class. We'd consider trying one of the other classes they offer.

Great chocolate but no tour available contrary to website. Prices better at factory than at a local shop. Will be back for the truffle class.

This place is where chocoholic's dreams are made of!!! Took a Bean-to-Bar chocolate making class on a Saturday afternoon and had a blast! The instructor was incredibly knowledgeable and simply amazing! I have learned so much about chocolates and had great time making chocolate from scratch with cacao beans from Tanzania. Definitely raised the (chocolate) bar for me lol Sample cacao beans and choose the one you prefer - weigh 450g cacao beans of your choice - sort the beans - Bean Cracker to break cacao bean husks and turn them into cacao nibs - Winnowning with blow dryer to get rid of the husks and skins - Pre-Grinder to turn cacao nibs into wet sand texture - Grinder - add 150g sugar - Roll Mill to expedite the grinding process - Grinder add cacao butter for smoother texture - Chocolate Tempering, 2/3 to low 80F, mix with the rest 1/3 to bring overall temperature to low 90F - Pour into Mold - Wait anxiously for the chocolate to set - unmold and bag (if you have any left after sampling lol) They also have a store in the front with assortment of classic and innovative flavors. Sampled couple of their flavors and Earl Grey is my favorite! Also was told that they are coming up with some very interesting and creative flavors in collaboration with momofuku (savory flavors in chocolate anyone?) in June/July 2023. They sell out fast so set your chocolate alarm if you're a curious and adventurous chocolate aficionado. Fun facts: Cacao beans are the seeds of the cacao fruit. Every bean has a unique flavor profile shaped by the soil and climate it grows in. This place uses unroasted cacao beans which maximumly retain the original classic chocolatey and fruit-forward flavor. The juice made from cacao fruit pulp is delightful and refreshing with notes of mango, lychee, guava, and some other tropical fruit flavors! The Uganda cacao beans are more nutty, earthy, with less notes of fruitiness. The Tanzania and Dominic Republic cacao beans are more fruity and sour/tart/tangy. Tanzania ones have notes of raspberry and strawberry.

Got a chance to make my own chocolate ice cream at Raaka Chocolate. Really fun experience and I walked away with 2 pints of the ice cream that I made.

Received a mouth-watering selection of 30 mini dark chocolate bars from a New York friend, and am hooked! Love Raaka's commitment to quality, sustainability, and fair trade, as well as its choice to only use unroasted cacao beans for a brighter and fruitier flavor. The fact that each bar's cacao is single origin, e.g. Pink Sea Salt contains Zorzal Cacao from Duarte Province, Dominican Republic whereas Oat Milk contains Cacao Pangoa from Junin Region, Peru, makes each flavor extra special and unique. I can't wait to try more!

I came here on a Monday afternoon. I got a bunch of chocolate bars! Pure Cacao & Coconut Swirl, Strawberry Peach Cobbler, Bourbon Cask Aged, and Cacao Ginger. The location is a little out of the way. But it's interesting to see where they actually make it. Solid chocolate made right in Brooklyn! I also love that they're gluten free, dairy free, soy free, and vegan.

If I could give a million stars I would!! We drove from upstate NY (like...WAY upstate) for the truffle making class and had an awesome time. Our instructor, Esteban, was really wonderful - patient, fun, friendly...The truffles were super tasty, too! Honestly, that's all to be expected. What gets a million stars is the service. We accidentally left a cell phone there and didn't discover this until after closing time. I emailed and called and Caroline was so amazing (along with everyone else in the shop) and helpful in locating it. We were so relieved when she emailed and texted after hours to let me know it had been found. They were searching the store, classroom, everywhere and found it in a hard to see spot. This is way above and beyond. Further, they shipped it at no additional cost (of course we offered to pay) AND when I opened the box I was greeted with a lovely Raaka care package. Blown away. We will be seeking another opportunity to experience another class when we can. Sincere gratitude to the Raaka crew!

don't get the one without sugar, 100% pure cacao, the rest are excellent! Definitely worth a try, especially the coconut milk one

Booked a Saturday tour for a group of friends and it was a great experience! Our tour guide was very knowledgeable. They literally show you the process from bean to bar. Letting you get to sample along the way to taste the difference in texture, taste, smell, etc. along the way. They really do all of their production in a tiny space but they've maximized on what they have. You can truly tell they care a lot about the chocolate they make and it shows in the end product. They do all dark chocolate which I like as well. While I would recommend the tour, if you were just to stop by the shop, they have free samples of all their current flavors! They even have seasonal flavors as well.

This is a wonderful little chocolate factory that produces some big flavor chocolate. I came here this past weekend with my husband for the chocolate tour. We had a really nice time. The tour itself was really interesting. It gave me a lot of respect for the people who run the place, and I learned a lot about the whole chocolate making process. Throughout the tour and at the end, we were able to sample all of the different flavored chocolate bars they make. We had such a hard time deciding which ones to buy. I definitely recommend the bananas foster bar and the ghost pepper chili. Those were my favorites. Check them out if you're looking for a fun thing to do on a Sunday.

My husband and I had so much fun at Raaka. We did their bean to bar chocolate making class. It was solid. We learned so much about the principals and techniques of making chocolates. The instructor was really knowledgeable, friendly and professional. The chocolates taste sooo good at all different stages! We look forward to returning to other classes as they also offer coffee/ wine / beer / tea with coffee tasting classes too.

My boyfriend and I attended a tour here after I purchased a living social deal. The tour consisted of us being shown how the chocolate in the factory is sourced and then subsequently made into chocolate bars. The entire process was such a cool experience! Stuff like this you don't see everyday! We actually arrived a bit late to our tour so I called ahead and to my surprise they said we were the only two on the tour and could just come at our convenience. I loved that they were super welcoming about this. Our tour guide, I don't remember her name but she was awesome! She was super knowledgable about the chocolate making process and did a wonderful job of answering all our questions. Be advised that you will have to wear a hair net when on the tour and the factory isn't as big as I thought it would be. Overall it was a bit short but I still enjoyed every minute of the tour. At the end you may purchase a chocolate bar for $6 if you like. This tour left me with Charlie and the chocolate factory vibes!

I'd been buying Raaka chocolate bars at my local Whole Foods and loving them for a while, so when I heard they were in Brooklyn and I was already planning a trip to NYC for my birthday I just had to check it out! I told my boyfriend and he surprised me with tickets to their chocolate bar making class that Sunday. First stepping in, I got excited about all the samples they put out - you don't even need a ticket for the tour or class to taste almost everything they have to offer. Of course I went for it and probably went a little too overboard on the sample - hey, it was my birthday! Calories don't count then, right? Some would say Raaka is bougie chocolate, but I'd say it's worth it for the natural ingredients, no common allergens, and sustainable practices.The factory was surprisingly small for the amount of chocolate they make. The class itself was pretty sweet - you get the tour, get to learn how to make their unroasted chocolate bars, tastings throughout the entire process, and three self-made bars with whatever toppings they have in stock! Overall great experience with a lot of goodies to enjoy there and at home.

Visited Saturday, November 10th, 2018, when it was freezing outside, but warm inside Raaka. By warm, I mean Raaka's employees were awesomely warm! Merchandise and, of course, tasty raw dark chocolate is sold by the entrance. There was a bubbly lady working at the front wearing an awesome navy Raaka shirt with rainbow pocket. She told me she cut the shirt at the bottom because it was long. I'm an even shorter gal, yet I liked her shirt and her idea so much that I bought myself a shirt and will hem it myself too! Other branded items include mugs, caps, and more t-shirts. The one with the pocket is the nicest IMHO. The tiny bathroom is unisex, smells fresh, and is kept very clean. Let's be real, it'll take most customers a while just to trek to Raaka, but the 45 minute tour is so worth it and excellent if you don't have more than 2 hours to spare for the longer chocolate bar making class. The tour guide was fantastic, knowledgeable, and SO patient. She was receptive to questions and made it an extremely enjoyable learning experience. An employee toiling over their seasonal Ginger snap chocolate bars was so nice and even took a moment to answer a question though she was not the tour guide. After my tour, I bought a ton of chocolate bars. 3 for $15, how could I resist not buying a zillion bars and the pocket tee? Fantastic friendly employees, informative and patient tour guide, clean facilities, what's not to like?

Stopping by the shop for samples is very fun. We've done it a few times and the same woman is there helping us navigate the chocolates. She's incredibly knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. We've felt very welcome and had all our questions answered about the process and chocolate in general. They're a specialty shop that does chocolate differently than most. Don't quote me, I should know this, but I think it's because they're not roasted? Go in, they can tell you the details. If you're in red hook, stop by! Great place to take visitors.

I just discovered Raaka Chocolate at the Park Slope Food Coop. It is incredibly delicious and has a subtle and rich flavor. It is now my favorite.

I once had a Mama friend who hated chocolate. I should've known then and there it was never going to work. All I can say is lesson learned. Beware of anyone who doesn't love the hell out of chocolate: Anyway, contrary to my evil Mama friend, I heart all things cacao bean. So why wouldn't I be interested in touring a BK chocolate factory? In fact, I sort of have a thing for chocolate factories, having toured one in Boston and also the Finger Lakes prior to this... In comparison, I appreciated how informative this was, allowing us to taste the cacao bean in each stage. Plus I found it interesting that they don't roast their cacao beans here. Raaka, in fact, means 'raw' in Finnish, so there you go. The tour guide was both pleasant and knowledgeable. But I'll admit I'm one of those people who learns best from instructors who make me laugh. I was like that when I was 10 and still am. So yeah... By the end of the 40 or so minute tour, I longed for the guide to say something funny 'cause she was losing me. Overall, though, a really lovely experience. They are wonderfully generous here in terms of allowing you to sample every flavor they offer. Again and again. Until you feel a bit queasy. (Who me?). I'd have to say the Bananas Foster, Pink Sea Salt, and Coconut Milk were my favorites for tasting so true to their names. Also really loved that at least some of the Chocolate here is certified kosher, allowing me to gift my hardcore religious brother with a couple bars of the stuff. A word about the Chocolate: Honestly, I can see where Dan B. is coming from with his take on it. This is chocolate that makes you think: "Do I like it? I'm not sure." Bottom line: Even though I did not ultimately fall totally in love with Raaka's products, am very happy it exists in BK! Definitely worth a visit for anyone into Chocolate. And who isn't? Evil Mama friend excepted.:)

Ordered waffle cone and the hot chocolate Sorry I wanted to like this but the hot chocolate was not good. Tasted like mushrooms soup w cacao Just kind of gross The waffle chocolate was thin and not substantial Great Instagram advertising to get you to buy though. Overrated and definitely not worth the price

"The power of chocolate will keep you home at night" - Huey Lewis Brooklyn is truly in the house. What a nice looking factory! I'm so glad Raaka Chocolate set up shop in Red Hook, created jobs and a superior chocolate product. Last stop before heading back to the 'burbs. My wife loves La Maison Du Chocolat but I have people coming over tonite and can't make it to Rock Center. However! Using the power of Yelp, I was able to find a factory no less making some crazy chocolates?! I wak in and there's a hipster couple trying every little nib and making faces that look like their pondering. Get outta my way fools, I gotta bookscoot. I slide by and grab the counterperson. We start talking about the factory and what they do in Red Hook. They don't sell a box of truffles which is what I was looking for, I was able to score a few exotic sounding chocolate bars. My son and I are trying every chocolate product they offer, I love samples! haha The counterperson spoke about a $75 three month chocolate club where they'll send you a few chocolates of the month. Sounds great but $75 bucks sounds a little too chocolate rich for this Greek-Italian boy. The nice counter person wraps up the chocolates in twine, then puts them in a small burlap looking baggie then sends me on my way. I wish I had some more time, *Owners you should also sell baking chocolates as well as cocoa baking powers as well as hot chocolate powder. Trust me, I'd spend $100 bucks in your store instead of $15 for the bars This is from their website: "We're proud to make bars directly from beans by hand, showcasing the unique profiles of each region & growing season." --Ryan Cheney, Raaka Founder Fair trade chocolate beans brought to Red Hook Brooklyn for all us to enjoy. Raaka on!

They are my favorite chocolate bars. I usually get their 3 for $15 bundles and its so worth the price.I get their oat milk, 100% cacao, maple and nibs and coconut milk bars. I like the quality and taste of these chocolates. And their shipping is quick!

10/10 For me. I absolutely love tours, especially when it comes to food. This place is in a warehouse in Brooklyn and doesn't look like much when you first go in but the tour makes up for it. Our tour guide was great. He was very well informed about the whole process of making chocolate. If you had any questions, he could answer you. It was interesting getting to learn the whole process of chocolate making. You are walked through each room and process, from picking the cacao beans to the packaging area. We got to try the cacao bean in it's purest form, which I actually did not mind. It was slightly bitter and tasted very nutty. The best part was the chocolate fountain part. We all got to take a taste from it. At the end of the tour, we all got to try samples from their most famous chocolates to their seasonal chocolates. I really loved the Sea Salt one. I disliked the pumpkin pie one (but I never liked pumpkin pie in the first place). There was also a spicy one I did not enjoy, but the tour guide did warn us about the spiciness of the chocolate before hand. The tour guide did a great job explaining why we ate the chocolates from darkest to lightest amount of cacao %. Overall, I had a great time here and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys learning about how things are made and chocolate.

Educational chocolate tour. We came in for their noon chocolate tour and Raaka, which means wild or something in Finnish was an interesting tour where people can see the secrets in making chocolate. This chocolate uses organic cacao beans that are directly plucked from their country and farm of origin. We saw how cacao beans are peeled and how chocolate is tempered and the different terms in chocolate making. Also, white chocolate is basically the cocoa butter and sugar without the cacao powder which is used for hot chocolate. Luckily, we tried different flavours of chocolate at the end of the tour. Since Raaka is a vegan chocolate brand, I found most of their bars too dry for me. I will say the coconut and the rhoobis tea one were the most smooth if you prefer milk chocolate textures. But overall, their chocolate isn't really to my taste so while I'm glad I went, I probably won't buy their chocolate again.

We went for a chocolate making class and it was an amazing experience!!!! It's a true lesson for chocolate lovers where we were taken on a trip from the origin of the chocolate bean to the chocolate bar. It's really neat! We get to also taste the chocolate from the bean to the stirred molten yum. The young woman who took us through the steps was very knowledgeable and I learned a lot. When it was time to make our bar, we get to use the chocolate bar they were working on at the day: our was a coconut milk chocolate bar. We make 3 bars and we can chose the toppings available. I loved our resulting creations. Definitely a great experience for chocolate lovers and a sweet learning opportunity!

I first heard about Raaka at the Christmas Village in Bryant Park a few years ago and thought their chocolate was fantastic. My friend and I went to the factory a few weeks ago for the beginner class and had a great time. Anne was very informative and took us all throughout the chocolate-making process from cocoa bean to wrapping the bars. We got to make our own chocolate and pick the toppings/fillings which was great. Everyone who worked there was extremely nice and my friend and I are already planning on going back for the advanced class. Highly recommend!

Some of the best tasting chocolate I've had! The flavor is rich without being too bitter! Love that it is a delicious treat that is low in sugar. Great products.

Came here for the 3C's - Chocolate, Cheese & Cider event tonight at the Raaka factory in Red Hook. (Tickets were $10 and with tax it came to $11.50.) The enthusiasm the Raaka team has for chocolate is contagious, and their dedication to the craft is obvious. If you could catch chocolate fever it would be from here! Listening to their explanations on the individual nuances of each chocoloate and cheese, the why and how came alive, showcasing the complexity and thought process used in creating each flavor and each pairing. The event featured five chocolate, cheese and cider pairings in order from lightest/mildest to heaviest/strongest in flavor. All the chocolates were rich and complex, from the tea and fruit flavors to sea salt and ghost pepper notes, and I'm glad they served it in thin disks rather than large chunks, so you could experience the texture and flavors melting on your tongue. The cheeses ranged from creamy and mild, to nutty and earthy, to a straight up pungent "barnyard" (as they described it!) blue cheese. The ciders were more like a flight of sours, which ranged from subtle and apple-y, to citrusy and hoppy, to fruity with hints of warm spices. Aside from the pairings, the Raaka staff also served a few different disks of their other chocolate flavors, such as pink Himalayan sea salt, spiced chai and coconut milk chocolate. All the pairings were served on cocktail plates and little shot-glass size cups, and the team was great about clearing away used plates and cups and glasses. Raaka provided a generous amount of samples, they let you try additional pieces of the chocolates and cheeses, though to be fair one can only eat maybe an extra 2-3 items considering the richness of the food. There was also a separate area where you could sample small tidbits of other bars for sale. They did a special 3 bars for $15, and also had options for monthly bar subscription plans. Graft, which provided the ciders, also gave out a can of your choice to each attendee, to drink there or take with them after each person had tasted all the ciders. Appreciate their generosity and thoroughly enjoyed the event. Will definitely be purchasing some Raaka bars in the future and also want to look for a few of the cheeses.

I am so late writing this review but I must give credit where it is due! I bought a living social deal here for the chocolate tour. I'm from Long Island and coming all the way to Brooklyn it's a stretch. But the chocolate tour was worth every penny and time. Just a cute factory full of delicious chocolate. As we went on our wonderful tour, we got to sample on all of their chocolate. Our tourguide was awesome and so knowledgeable. Through the tour I also learned that I can buy their products at whole foods. I remember loving their banana chocolate and their maple and nibs chocolate. They both had a unique but delicious taste to them. I am a chocolateholic and this place did wonders for me. This was a cute date night for my boyfriend and I. He loved it as much as I did yay!

Wow.....just...WOW! Everything GOOD that everyone has mentioned about this place is NOT a lie: "Friendly staff" "Knowledgeable" "Great Experience" "Worth every penny" "All you can eat chocolate" This place does not disappoint! A word of advice, if you can afford it, you're definitely better off purchasing ONLY the chocolate making class. I almost purchased the tour along with a chocolate making class and that would have been a BIG mistake. The chocolate making class itself takes only roughly an hour the most (prep time and freeze time). So the rest of the hour (almost hour and a half - not complaining) is basically a tour and some background information on the company, the chocolate making process (theirs compared to industry owners - Hershey), and their machines. My boyfriend and I came here with a Groupon and we don't regret any of it. I loved that we got the tour as well as the class, it was an unexpected, pleasant surprise. I think I would have felt otherwise had it just been the chocolate making class alone. My biggest concern was the transportation and parking. To take public transportation from where we live to Raaka would have been the biggest pain ever, especially since we needed to shoot over to Queens afterward. Well let me tell you....there is plenty of street parking! I was sooo thankful, especially because it was a hot day. I would definitely consider returning and bringing friends. The company also has be considering the First Nibs Subscription - their chocolate definitely has attitude, flavor, and uniqueness. It gives you a different feeling and type of sweetness when compared to Hershey's and Mars. Definitely give this place a try! Don't wait...I just loved the way they... ~~Talked Chocolate to Me

Pretty interesting tour that shows you Raaka's way of doing chocolate. The tasting at the end was fun and delish! I tried all the flavors available that day and my favorites are the pepper, strawberry basil, Turkish coffee, and Yacon root. I used the Groupon coupon ($10 for 2 people is a good deal). The only disappointment was that, the coupon says we can try making chocolate a little bit, but in fact no making. FYI, for those who take public transportation, like us, there's quite a walk from the station to the factory (15-20 mins). So if you go Friday night, DO NOT get off at Smith & 9th station because that route is along the highway and very few people pass by. It's isolated, deserted, and may be dangerous at night.

I came here for the chocolate tour and it was probably one of the coolest things I've done in a long time. The tour guide was super knowledgable and gave a lot of insight into how chocolate is made from bean to bar. Absolutely loved their chocolate too! Some really unique flavors, and all of them felt light and delicious. I definitely have recommended others to take the tour here because of my experience. When I see them occasionally in the store (step up your distro guys! Get Trader Joe's or something in on this!) I do pick them up. Great bang for your buck and a really fun experience if you're someone who likes learning and eating.

Great experience with the staff who introduced us to their special chocolate. My friends and I took a detour after going to IKEA. Raaka has all you can try chocolate!!! So why the hell not?!

I've been a fan of Raaka ever since a grocery store I worked at upstate began carrying it. It's virgin chocolate, and some of the best I've ever had. I bought a Gilt City voucher to take a chocolate-making class with a friend, and at $50 for the both of us, it was a total deal. The factory is a hike, but worth it. The tour/class was both fun, educational and delicious. Our guide was very knowledgable about the process, and walked us through each step and showed us the different rooms where the chocolate is made. In the end, we each got to make three bars with the mixins of our choosing, plus had an intense chocolate tasting session where we sampled every Raaka flavor - even some discontinued/subscription varieties! Our Gilt coupon also included a $20 credit EACH for us to use, so we each walked away with five bars and a truffle at the end of the day. Not bad! My favorite flavors: Vanilla Roobios Sea salt Coconut truffle

Came here for a tour and to make chocolate bars. Love the fact that they know where their cacao comes from. They receive the pods and make chocolate from scratch. I'm lactose, they don't use any milk in their chocolate. But they do have a coconut milk bar which was perfect for me. The guy who gave the tour was very informative and knew his chocolate. There were a total of 6 people in our tour and everyone seemed like they had a good time. I ate so much chocolate. This place is a must.

Amazing, quality chocolates - yes, the chocolate market is very saturated and many chocolates are "pretty good." But you can taste the difference in the purity of the taste (generally for chocolates, a rule of thumb is to look for minimal ingredients and few emulsiers like lecithin). Favorite flavors are: Yacon Root (super dark and a bit bitter, but no added sugar! This is my personal favorite when I want something incredibly satisfying and chocolate-y but am cutting down on added sugar); Coconut Milk Chocolate (the coconut flavor is rich, well balanced, and lingers); Pink Sea Salt (a classic). Unique flavors include Cask Aged Bourborn and Matcha. You can get these at stores like Whole Foods, but a good time to buy these is in bulk / gift sets at the holiday booths in Bryant Park. These make great holiday or birthday gifts!

I received a box of 12 dark chocolate bars, all different flavors, for Christmas. Every bar tastes exactly the same. The Pink Sea Salt had about a handful of small salt crystals, the ginger also had crystals on the back that had no taste at all. The Maple nibs tasted like chocolate covered cardboard. The Banana Foster had no banana taste at all yet the ingredients had banana listed. My point is that every bar tasted exactly the same but I know that the person who gifted this paid a lot of money. The chocolate tastes ok, but if I wanted 12 of the same bar I could have gotten one that tasted the same as these in any store. Don't waste your money b/c the marketing is a fraud.

Paid and booked for a tour of rhe Brooklyn facility for 4 people for Spring 2020. But of course that was cancelled due to COVID. I did receive an email from the company then but I wasn't offered a refund. It's been over a year now and I decided to email back requesting for a refund since the tour is not likely to happen anytime soon. The email went unanwered.

Unlimited samples of chocolate! The tour was super interesting and I loved how knowledgeable the guide was on both the beans and the procedures. The chocolate is raw and delicious - even better because it's made in NYC ! My fav was the Himalayan Salt Chocolate - this might've been a seasonal flavor .. I'm not sure but Def worth the trip.

We visited Raaka as part of a Brooklyn chocolate tour (so fun) with a Slice of Brooklyn Tours. We learned all about the founding of the company en route and enjoyed samples while we visited. They don't roast their beans as most chocolate makers do. They have a subscription plan you can join and I wish I already joined it as they collaborated with a Ramen company and made some very unusual and highly delicious flavors that are only available through the subscription. They work to be environmentally friendly and to ensure there is no slave labor ok the farms growing their cacao fruit. Totally worth a visit!

I hate to bash the place, but I think people should be warned: their chocolate is not tasty. I suspect the company is more into the process than the product. The stuff I received as a gift was all organic. Maybe it was healthy. But it was not a treat to eat

On my second visit to Raaka Chocolate factory I took my 5th grade students with me. Imagine 30 kids and in this amazing Chocolate Factory!!! We absolutely loved the experience and my kids can't stop talking about all the chocolate that they tried. Even for our non-dark chocolate eaters (even me), you will love it and want more. Surprisingly my kids were in awe with the label machine lol. My students say they want to go back, and I know I do. The staff is so accommodating and fun, their passion is clear no matter who you work with. Great job to Ronald dealing with 30 excited kids at once!! Their products are sold worldwide, but they say to try whole foods if you can't make it to the factory. I bought 5 more bars to go and could kick myself for not buying an entire box more!! I've said it before, please visit this local small business. You will be delighted you did.

Coming here was a really fun experience! I purchased the Groupon for the 2 person chocolate making class. This includes a tour of their facility so you can see up close how their chocolate is made. It was really interesting to learn and see how chocolate goes from the bean all the way to the packages that you buy in the store. After seeing how the chocolate is made, each person gets to "make" their own chocolate bars. This consists of pouring their standard chocolate in a mold and choosing your own toppings. For my class they had the following toppings: salt, dried cranberries, candied ginger, sesame seeds, and sunflower seeds. I would have personally liked some almonds or something, but all of their chocolate is nut and dairy free. The one criticism I had with this, the salt was super potent which we weren't warned about. When I went home and tried my chocolate all of the salt ones were too salty. The last part of the tour we got to sample all of their chocolates ranging from the darkest to lightest. Because they are dairy and nut free, they have really unique flavors that I've never tried before such as: bourbon, chai tea, and black tea. This is a great date activity to do with a friend or partner! A few notes: *there's plenty of free parking on the street * they will make you wear a hair net for the tour/class. If this isn't your thing bring your own hat or bandanna to wear instead *they serve water with the tasting

Bought the Banana Foster, Spiced Chai, and Cabernet Sauvignon flavors for $18 and I love them. Think the price is a little high for the portion, but it's okay to splurge on chocolate every once in a while (... Right?). The ingredients are simple and natural, not to mention dairy-free. Worth a try if you're in the mood for some cool new flavors.

My friend brought me here for a chocolate making class as a birthday surprise, and we had a great time. It was interesting to learn so much about chocolate, eat way too many free samples, and finally (finally) get to pour some chocolate into molds and scatter some of the topping options they had provided (really really good figs). You'll adorn a fabulous hairnet, want to wear closed toed shoes, wear pants and not have any loose jewelry on for the class. My only warning (if you have somewhere else to go after) is to keep track of time, our guide went over by nearly an hour, and it was a mad dash to our dinner - though they are willing to mail you your chocolate bars, if you do need to run.

We found this hidden gem on Groupon (called Bean-to-Bar) and had such a great time! The Groupon was for a tour of the factory, where you can pour and make 3 of your own chocolate bars. The tour was entertaining and interesting - the tour guide would let us eat the coacoa bean at each stage (although it was not the best until when it was chocolate, but I loved the experience!) We were really into it. They explain how different flavors are made, as they have a variety of really cool ones - from banana to Cabernet. I was very impressed with how much our guide knew. I would definitely recommend to anyone in the area, we hope to go back again soon!

I should say before my class here at Raaka, I don't have much experience in chocolate tasting, let alone chocolate producing. Our lecturer Jennifer was very helpful and walked us step by step, from cocoa bean cracking, to grinding and molding, and eventually to topping and packaging. Chocolate here at Raaka was virgin, meaning not roasted as other chocolate usually was, so I got to try their initial flavor with no artificial add-ins. A handful of flavors were provided, ranging from dark chocolate (82% cocoa) to milk chocolate (60%). Good thing about Raaka as a small manufacturer was that they were able to explore new flavors each month and add them towards general batch based on feedback. What was unique here was for sure the chocolate making session, which I could mold and top chocolate all by myself (of course with the help of Jennifer). As a new "joiner" in the industry, I'm pretty satisfied with my outcome - three self-designed commingle flavored chocolate bars. Experience here was remarkable given how much I've learned and tried. I gave them five star, each of the star itself represents another five stars!