Xocodiva Artisan Chocolates of Puerto Vallarta
While eating my way around Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, in 2015, as always, I had chocolate on my brain. I was told there was only one option worth exploring if I wanted to find the best chocolate in Puerto Vallarta, and that was Xocodiva Artisan Chocolates.
Carol Fast and Charlotte Semple, the original owners of Xocodiva and Lix ice-cream of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
I had the pleasure of meeting the founders of the company–Charlotte Semple and Carole Fast–the two ex-pat Canadian chocolatiers who founded Xocodiva Artisan Chocolates in the heart of Puerto Vallarta in the Zapata neighbourhood of Old Town PV. Charlotte ran the retail shop with some very friendly staff while Carole made most of the chocolate in the Xocodiva workshop at a nearby location. Charlotte is highly creative, and took pleasure in designing the chocolates and helping develop the recipes for the Xocodiva creations.
chocolate in puerto vallarta
The creative team of Semple and Fast–who hail from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada–moved to Puerto Vallarta in 2006 after searching for just the right Mexican location for their shop. With a lot of chocolate knowledge under their collective belts and the goal to create a new chocolate taste in Mexico’s favourite resort town, Xocodiva Chocolates was born. “Our philosophy in launching Xocodiva was to mix European chocolate artistry with Meso American culture,” said Charlotte. “Our chocolates are European-style, but honour the different Mayan gods.”
Xocodiva Artisan Chocolates in its new evolution pictured above, makes a lovely selection of fresh hand-painted chocolates in Puerto Vallarta.
In the fall of 2016, Xocodiva closed its doors as Charlotte and Carol chose to change their focus and move on to a new chapter in their lives. The business was soon purchased by Kathleen and Todd Atkins, a dynamic ex-pat American couple that is now making chocolate in Puerto Vallarta under the Xocodiva name with a new logo–pictured above with their delicious Strawberry Balsamic truffle–and a new line of specialty chocolate products based around a Belgian chocolate couverture.
The Xocodiva website shows the current collection and where the chocolates are available. I enjoyed all that I tried, but absolutely adored the Limoncello truffle (pictured above) featuring locally made limoncello liqueur. In addition to selling some of their chocolate in PV at the Old Town Farmers’ Market and their chocolate workshop on Zapata (check the site for hours,) Xocodiva is also available for sale at the Vallarta Botanical Gardens gift shop and a few other locations. Xocodiva also makes fabulous artisan ice-cream and sells it at their “Lix by Xocodiva” ice-cream shop on Basilio Badillo that is currently undergoing some updates.
Lix Ice-Cream in Puerto Vallarta is also owned and operated by Xocodiva.
Kathleen Naomi and Todd Atkins of Xocodiva Artisan Chocolates in Puerto Vallarta are living their dream.
It’s interesting to note that in 2017, a chocolate museum was opened in Puerto Vallarta. It is part of the ChocoMuseo family of chocolate museums that you will find in South and Central America, the Caribbean, and now Mexico. Visit their website here. Looks like it’s time for me to head back to Puerto Vallarta!
Hi RoseMary and thx for stopping by. Yes, I’m a big fan of lemoncello liqueur, so I really enjoyed that particular chocolate. Cheers!
I would love the limoncello chocolate! It’s pretty and sounds refreshing, too.
I love their chocolate truffles, as you know Doreen. My absolute favourite so far is the strawberry balsamic truffle. The pairing of the strawberry and balsamic makes for an explosive taste combo.
Thanks for your comment, Janet, and for being the co-taster of the Xocodiva truffles. They were indeed delicious. 🙂
Doreen Pendgracs recently posted…Xocodiva Artisan Chocolates of Puerto Vallarta
thanks doreen, can’t wait to meet you and will let you know when our site is up 🙂
roses are red
violets are blue
sugar is sweet
and chocolate is the best thing in the universe
xo kathleen
Poets are you? Love that sentiment. Especially after drinking half a bottle of exquisite wine paired very nicely with a SOMA chocolate bar. Life is good. Very good.
Doreen Pendgracs recently posted…women’s cocoa cooperatives of the Dominican Republic
update to post . ‘xocodiva’ lives!
hey this is kathleen, one of the new owners of xocodiva and lix!!! my hubby todd and i vacationed in pv last may (my first time), we fell in love with this gem of a place, walked into a chocolate shop (i’m a chocoholic) which had a sign outside that said ‘how’d you like to own a business in pv? YES YES YES!!!
so we sold our house, left our careers, hopped in the car with our two greyhounds and said ‘adios’ cold chicago snow! hola sunny puerto vallarta!
we’re more than EXCITED to be the new owners since february of this year (2017)!!! including hands on… todd’s handmaking all the european chocolate and ice cream mixin’s – it’s AHHH-MAAAZING!!! he’s also experimenting with new flavors (raspberry hazelnut, earl grey tea and mint – so far) and artsy colors!
we’ll have a new website and fbook soon… in the meantime, contact us for any questions!
gracias, kathleen
xocodiva.pv@gmail.com
That is SO cool, Kathleen! I love people who follow their heart. I can’t wait to meet you and Todd, and to taste the new incarnation of Xocodiva Chocolate! Keep in touch, and do let me know when you new site is up!
Doreen Pendgracs recently posted…women’s cocoa cooperatives of the Dominican Republic
Oh wow!!! Love this post! A very mouthwatering article! <3
Mary Charie | Two Monkeys Travel recently posted…11 Ways to Own Your Stay in Yangon, Myanmar
Man, salted with sweet gelato has been my ultimate favourite this summer! I have a love/hate relationship with your blog – it makes me reach for the kitchen cupboards after reading! Great post.
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Yikes, Gemma! It has been such a long time since you have last visited Chocolatour. How are you? I hope the love/hate relationship with my site will swing you back over. 🙂
Oh wow! This is a delightful blog. Thanks for sharing the different, exotic chocolates. Yum!
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The chocolates look so yummy especially the dark one.
Chocolate and icecream . . . . . Oh lawd!
What a fantastic job you’ve got Doreen?
Can we swap jobs?
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Wow! These look good, especially the dark chocolate! And I love the name- it sounds decadent!
Elizabeth recently posted…Quick Easy Mekong Inspired Omelette with Peanut Sauce
Doreen, here it is 5am and I am wanting some of those French truffles filled with champagne. I have a funny story here – my mother used to love those chocolate soldiers filled with rum that came from Holland. Now she was basically a non-drinker, maybe a glass of wine at Christmas but that was about it. Someone gave her a box of those chocolate soldiers and she feasted on throughout the day and she became quite ‘happy’. Wonder if the same thing happens with those truffles – would love the opportunity to try.
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Thx for your comment, Pam. I’m actually with Charlotte right now in Uxmal, as we have taken a tour to see the chocolate museum and some plantations in the area. Xocodiva is taking the next step and now making bean to bar chocolate. I love seeing chocolate makers take on new challenges!
Doreen pendgracs recently posted…Vallarta Botanical Gardens: a PV must-see
So much chocolate!!! And yet I’d go for those maple walnut ganaches first because MAPLE!!!! Yum. Sounds amazing.
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I liked reading your post very much. It did bring up an interesting question I had. You mentioned Maple Syrup, and I was wondering does distance have an impact on candy? Does being further away make the maple syrup candy taste different, or does chocolate take better when it comes closer to the source?
Just wondering.
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Hi Wiiliam. Thx for your great question, and please accept my reply for a tardy reply. I have been (and am still) travelling in Mexico without a good internet connection.
The maple syrup that Xocodiva uses in their chocolate is Canadian, so it does indeed have a very special flavour. That flavour will be the same as if consumed in Canada, as that product travels well. When you are dealing with fresh chocolates, overall, they don’t travel well as they are delicate and made without preservative. Therefore, if you are travelling, and wish to take chocolate a long distance with you, it’s best to puchase the solid dark chocolate bars, as they have a shelf life of at least one year.
I love their creative idea of mixing European and Meso American culture. And their attitude to take that leap of faith and make the move to PV . That took guts. Kudos to these Ladies!
Pamela Chollet recently posted…Enhancing Self-Sufficiency In Preschoolers
The maple walnut ganaches have my name on them. Those sound to die for. The ice cream too!
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I got hungry while reading this! haha It’s 2:18 am here in Singapore and there’s no chocolate in the fridge haha Mexico is on my bucket list too and I want to visit the el castillo, chichen itza. 🙂 Thanks for making me hungry, Doreen! kidding! 😀
Thx for your comment, Karrie. Yes, Mexico certainly does have a lot of amazing things to checkout. I hope you’ll be able to visit sometime soon.
Doreen Pendgracs recently posted…Vallarta Botanical Gardens: a PV must-see
Reading this, I started to itemize the available chocolate in my house…hm…Halloween candy for the kids, maybe a Trader Joe’s dark chocolate…Sigh, nothing remotely as gorgeous and appetizing as what you are presenting here. Love the chocolates and love the story!
Thanks, Rose. I’m glad you’re enjoying the journey thru Puerto Vallarta. I’ve just uploaded a post on the Vallarta Botanical Gardens that you might enjoy. 🙂
Doreen Pendgracs recently posted…Vallarta Botanical Gardens: a PV must-see
These look absolutely beautiful! And we eat with our eyes first, right? And I love the brand name Xocodiva. Charlotte’s life sounds very full and super busy meaning she must have a ton of energy. Maybe the chocolate has something to do with that? Hmmmmm
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Absolutely, Jacquie! Pure chocolate definitely gives you more energy, and makes you feel better, too. Couple that with the fact that Charlotte is eating a lot of natural organic foods that she sources through the farmers’ market and she’s definitely on the right track! 🙂
I don’t eat that much chocolate and have never considered myself to be much of a chocolate fan. But I have to say your blog posts are making me rethink that. This one is particular sounds delicious.
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Thanks very much, Ken. That’s precisely my goal: To get people to think about chocolate in a different way. It’s not just candy, if you seek out the right stuff. Look for artisanal chocolate that only has 2-3 ingredients (cocoa, a small amount of organic cane sugar, and perhaps an additional flavouring enhancement) and you’ll be on the right track!
How lovely the packaging and presentation is! I don’t often eat chocolate but if I do indulge it’s dark chocolate so this looks SO tempting. What a marvelous job you have Doreen!
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Thanks, Marty. I really DO feel privileged to be immersed in the world of fine chocolate. What could be sweeter? 🙂
Doreen Pendgracs recently posted…Xocodiva Artisan Chocolates of Puerto Vallarta
I love the idea of maple walnut ganache, though each variety sounds utterly tempting. It never ceases to amaze me how many ingredients can be added to chocolate to take it to an entirely new level.
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So very true, Jeri. Xocodiva does also make a Mexican truffle using local chilli peppers for those who like their chocolate with heat. The possibilities are endless!
Doreen Pendgracs recently posted…Xocodiva Artisan Chocolates of Puerto Vallarta
Oooh! My favorite things. Oh, salted caramel with candied pecan! The mix of European and Mexican sounds fabulous. What a great place to check out next time I’m there!
Beth Niebuhr recently posted…How to Survey Your Peeps
Right on, Beth! I do think that Xocodiva has carved out a unique niche for themselves by combining the best of European and Mexican traditions in their chocolates. Do check them out on your next visit to PV.
How cool to find expat Canadians making chocolate in Mexico! Their chocolates sound delicious. I’d like to try the one with candied orange peel.
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Indeed, Donna. I always get excited when I find Canadians abroad who are doing really cool things. I guarantee you’d love the candied orange peel from Xocodiva. It’s delicious!
The chocolates look so well presented – almost too good to eat. With Christmas approaching, they will make ideal gifts to the chocolate lovers out there – me me!
The big bar of dark chocolate has my name on it. I try not to dribble when reading your posts!
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Tjhx for your enthusiastic reply, Phoenicia. Yes, I can’t think of a better gift than chocolate. It makes everyone smile, and makes you feel better, too!
Yummy! You have to send me some! We can do a trade for some German chocolate!
Jennifer McMillen recently posted…How To Save Money Traveling with Kids: Kid Friendly Europe 101
Hi Jennifer. I would love to experience more German chocolate. So far, none that I’ve had has impressed me. Do you have a favourite?
Sounds wonderful. Chocolate & ice-cream ? Oh my goodness. How great to meet two Canadian expats down there in your field.
Hi Kathy. Yes, I get really excited when I meet ex-pat Canadians living abroad. There actually are quite a few in PV, and even more ex-pat Americans. I thank the world of chocolate for introducing me to so many great people! 🙂
Wow that Charlotte stays busy, doesn’t she? Sounds like she has a series of fabulous international chocolates to appeal to the vacationing crowds. And a farmer’s market in PV, oh I can’t even begin to imagine the different delights you’d find there. That sounds like the place to go.
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Hi Susan. Yes, I’m, hoping I’ll be able to make it to the farmers’ market in PV while I’m there. It’s always amazing to see what’s growing in any region I visit. Cheers!