East Lothian company Chocolate Tree make moves into Edinburgh

A common sighting at local festivals and farmers’ markets, a young chocolate making company from East Lothian now has more permanent premises in town. John Cooke visited

Lovers of real, hand-made chocolate will delight at the arrival of another chocolaterie in Bruntsfield. Alastair Gower and Friederike Matthis’ Chocolate Tree started out in East Lothian, where they perfected an organic chocolate recipe that mixed food ethics with arresting flavours. Expanding on their online operation, and the stalls and tents they run at local fairs and farmers’ markets, they are now serving their creations from this cosy little café. All the raw chocolate they use comes from Belgium and is certified organic. There is hot chocolate, naturally, and it’s excellent – not too sweet, and with the optional twist of spicy chilli, cinnamon, ginger or cardamom.

The Spanish-style hot choc is much thicker, requiring the accompanying wafer to scoop from cup to lip. Not quite Barcelona-style (a real churros would bridge that gap) but still deeply satisfying. Chocolate cakes are baked on the premises and vary from a cheesecake to a pistachio-encrusted labour of love that seems a shame to slice. Despite the obvious care and attention in a delicate rose and champagne truffle, for example, prices are very reasonable. You can even take away a pair of chocolate high heels for just over a tenner.

+ Haute couture choc at off-the-peg prices
- Lukewarm cappuccino

More: Life & style, Food & drink (Life & style), Chocolate, Chocolate Tree

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