This year at Farmer’s Son Co. we returned to a simple idea. Chocolate should feel joyful. It should feel generous. It should feel like something worth pausing for. We have offered chocolate in the shoppe for a few years, but this season we wanted to build something fuller and more expressive. When Rory joined the business in May, it gave us the momentum to approach the category with intention and curiosity. Together we created a collection that feels warm and adventurous and perfectly suited to the holiday season.
My own connection to chocolate goes far beyond the shoppe. When I was growing up, my mom found a coffee cup at a garage sale that said chocolate is my life. It made her laugh and she kept it for years. I have it now and it sits in our kitchen. I reach for it sometimes when I make coffee before heading to the studio. It reminds me that she knew how to find joy in small, ordinary things. Chocolate has always carried that same quality for me. A familiar taste. A quiet comfort. A moment held just for you. I think part of why I love exploring chocolate now is because it still holds that feeling.
When we began shaping this collection, Rory and I agreed on one rule. We would taste every single chocolate before bringing it into the shoppe. If we did not genuinely enjoy it, we would not list it. That decision guided everything. It kept the range honest and helped us build something that feels personal and full of life, especially now as clients create gifts, host gatherings and look for small pieces of comfort throughout the season.
Tony’s Chocolonely became a natural cornerstone. Their chocolate has warmth and character. The Caramel Sea Salt bar remains one of the most loved both online and here in the shoppe. Their Milk Chocolate Biscuit bar is nostalgic without feeling childish. Their White Chocolate Raspberry Popping Candy bar is lighthearted and bright. Tony’s helps set the tone of the wall. Generous. Fun. Comforting.
One of the most joyful discoveries this year has been chocolate from the Netherlands through Jumbo. In Europe, Jumbo is a household name, but what drew us in is that many of their bars are made with Tony’s Chocolonely cocoa. The quality begins there, but the flavours are what make them stand out. They feel distinctly Dutch. A little nostalgic. A little curious. A little playful. Their Caramel and Speculoos Milk Chocolate Bar tastes like a December market. Their Cheesecake Blueberry Almond Dark Chocolate Bar has earned its praise for its balance and surprising depth. And their Coconut Passionfruit White Chocolate Bar offers the kind of bright, refreshing lift that feels almost sunny in the middle of a prairie winter. Jumbo adds imagination and colour to the collection and invites people to explore.
From the United Kingdom we brought in Gnaw, a chocolate company known for its lighthearted spirit and seasonal flavours. Their holiday bars taste familiar in a festive way. A little gingerbread. A little pudding spice. A little warmth that fits the season without ever feeling heavy. Gnaw brings a sense of charm that feels right at this time of year.
Up Up from Scotland offers something different. Their approach is clean and modern. No theatrics. Just well made chocolate with clarity and a gentle confidence. Their milk chocolate is smooth and thoughtful. Their dark chocolate has structure without being overwhelming. Up Up adds a quieter note to the wall and helps balance the collection.
We also introduced Meenk chocolate covered licorice this season. Their chocolate is beautifully smooth and has a clarity that lets the flavour speak for itself. The licorice inside is soft rather than chewy, which makes the whole experience feel more refined than you might expect from such a pairing. A number of our clients have described Meenk as striking a lovely balance of sweet and salty, with a clean finish that keeps you returning for another piece. It is a quietly elegant treat and it brings a playful counterpoint to the rest of the wall.
Spain brings two very distinct expressions of good chocolate. Simón Coll offers a classic European style. Their seventy percent dark chocolate is smooth and structured. Their milk chocolate tablet is the kind of bar that disappears quickly because it is so easy to enjoy. Pancracio has now returned for its second holiday season with us and it has become a clear favourite. Their dark chocolate has richness without heaviness. The Salty Chips Dark Chocolate Bar is the one people return for. The salt lifts the cocoa and makes each bite taste more vivid. The Lemon and Mint Dark Chocolate Bar surprised both of us the first time we tried it. It is bright and refreshing yet still warm and full. These are the bars we reach for ourselves and the ones clients love discovering.
Working through the collection with Rory became one of the most enjoyable parts of this project. We compared notes. We talked through flavour and texture. We paid attention to what felt right for the shoppe. As the shelves filled, the collection took on a life of its own. Around the shoppe we call it The Great Wall of Chocolate. It has become one of the most joyful corners of the space. People walk in and pause. It feels generous and inviting and full of potential.
What I love most about this collection is how it reflects who we are. Warm. Curious. Intentional. Committed to offering quality in the everyday. And this is only the beginning. In the year ahead we hope to introduce chocolate from other parts of the world. New regions. New flavours. New stories to share with you.
For now the wall is full and the chocolate is ready. If you are building a holiday gift, hosting friends or simply want a moment of comfort at the end of the day, come visit the shoppe. The Great Wall of Chocolate is waiting and we think you will taste the care that went into every piece.
