On our way out of Monks Cowl, we made a delicious stop at Drakensberg Chocolate, also known as Drakensberg Chocolate Memories, an artisanal chocolate factory, shop, and café nestled in the Champagne Valley of the Central Drakensberg.
Founded in 2009 by Edi and Tammy Ernst, the chocolate factory uses fine Belgian couverture chocolate and sustainably sourced, traceable cocoa from Cocoa Horizons, together with pure cocoa butter and natural bourbon vanilla. Their chocolates contain no palm oil or modified fats.
The selection includes handcrafted dark and milk chocolate bars, truffle balls such as hazelnut praline and café mocha, ruby chocolate, and sugar-free options for those seeking diabetic-friendly alternatives.
The experience is more than chocolate. In 2019, the owners launched The Berg Bean Roastery, an in-house coffee roastery producing both single-origin and blended coffee beans. Visitors can sample the chocolates or sit down for gourmet hot chocolate, siphon-brewed coffee pairings, and signature chocolate fondues served with fresh fruit and other treats.
