SOMA Chocolate-maker Extraordinaire

I was in the mood for a sweet treat earlier this week so popped in to one of my favourite Toronto chocolate shops: the award-winning SOMA Chocolatemaker. Since I was in the east end of downtown, I chose their boutique in the historic Distillery District. If you’ve never been, it is definitely a must-see while in Toronto. What was once the largest distillery in the world, is now a pedestrian-only area filled with wonderful boutiques, bars and restaurants, nestled among beautiful, Victorian-era, stone and brick, industrial buildings. It even has its own version of the Paris’ love-locks! The Distillery is a lovely place to while away a leisurely afternoon any time of year. It is also host to one of the top Christmas markets in the world!

But I digress. Back to SOMA. This little factory is nestled in among the cobble-stone streets of the Distillery. And when I say ‘factory’, I mean ‘factory’ for SOMA makes their own chocolate on site. You can’t get much more authentic than that!

(Oh, and did I mention that it’s located across from one of my favourite French restaurants in Toronto – Cluny? More on that another time.) So, you can also watch these goodies being manufactured through the glass windows of the ‘laboratory’ while you’re perusing the shelves of chocolate treats. There, a large grinder crushes the cocoa nibs, while a chocolate-maker blends the cacao goodness.

You will find shelves lined with all sorts of goodies; from drinking mixes that make wonderful chocolat chaud – hot chocolate – (a staple for any kitchen) to an assortment of chocolate bars and truffles. They also have drinking chocolate on tap, ready for you to enjoy on the spot. Talk about ‘liquid gold’! With my nose pressed up against the glass of the truffle display case, I chose two flavours for my treat: Caramel Kiss and Cherry Bomb. The Caramel Kiss has a rich, creamy, salted caramel ganache with a dark cacao finish. Meanwhile, the Cherry Bomb mingles the tartness of dried cherry with a rich, chocolate ganache and also has a dark cacao finish. Both were so delectable that it was hard to choose a favourite. I think I’m leaning toward the Caramel Kiss though. Give them a try and let me know which you prefer.