Indiana sweet tooth

The Swiss aren’t the only ones who know how to make chocolate. Hoosiers have been cooking up sweet concoctions for decades. What better way to satisfy a sweet tooth on Valentine’s Day than with a box of local chocolates?

Stars ranging from Jessica Simpson to George Lopez have relished Hoosier-based DeBrand Chocolates. Based out of Fort Wayne, DeBrand celebrates Valentine’s Day with special chocolate heart boxes filled with individual pieces, as well as inscribed chocolate bars.

Whoever said food can’t be art hasn’t seen Ghyslain Maurais’ work. Maurais brings a French flare to Indiana with his gourmet, hand-painted chocolates. Ghyslain Chocolatier (chocolat des beaux arts) started in a Union City, Ind. Farmhouse, and has recently expanded to include two restaurants (Richmond Bistro and Ghyslain at the Sanctuary in Indianapolis). Ghyslain creates chocolate turtles, caramels, truffles and special chocolate Valentine’s Day roses, and several sinful pastries and desserts.

Chocolatier Elizabeth Garber creates delicious concoctions ranging from truffles to toffee at her popular shop, The Best Chocolate in Town. All chocolates are hand-made and hand-packed at the commercial kitchen and retail space on Mass Ave. Garber uses fresh ingredients to create seasonal chocolates like Egg Nog and Pumpkin Pie truffles.  

I personally frequent South Bend Chocolate Company’s Monument Circle location for the amazing hot chocolate, but it is more famously known for their chocolates.  The company got its start in 1991 under a license from the University of Notre Dame. The 17 store locations offer unique chocolate items like chocolate covered berries, citrus peels and Oreos.

Need there be more excuses to satisfy that Hoosier sweet tooth this Valentine’s Day?

This post was written by Brittany Smith, an intern with the Indiana Humanities Council. Brittany is a senior Communications major at Butler University. A strong passion for food and agriculture brought her to the Council’s Food for Thought campaign.