Bisou Chocolate

With Bay Area traffic being what it is again these days, trips to the East Bay are rare especially with the NBA team on the west side of the bay now.While walking the Ferry farmer's market on the 1st Saturday in July, I saw the magic words of something I haven't enjoyed in a while. Hot drinking chocolate (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=6QbrVpkxe7TqzmAhAh4sWQ). Being warmer than normal for the past week, the preceding word "iced" steered my feet to their stand (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=FVThFIsYm-Gy1AibEMmaFw).After helping a customer, a kind gentleman asked me what I'd like. I watched as he put together my iced hot drinking chocolate, 16 oz. (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&select=QmOTs89LuL-sdomAKe6zlA). I chose the chocolate base over the coffee base when asked. The chocolate flavor was unmistakably prominent. Don't expect a candy bar sweet drink. It hit the spot as I'd just started my shopping mission.I didn't really study their other items on the table as I was just starting my shopping. I will study these photos and stop by if something else catches my eye.

With so many pastry stands at the farmers market, it's nice to see one focused on candy. Chocolate specifically, apparently "bean to bar". And I love that they don't just churn out boring bars, but instead make all sorts of chocolate-gilded candies too.Chocolate-Dipped Caramel Waffles: I thought I really liked stroopwafel, but that all changed when I tried these! I was told they were made yesterday, so perhaps that's why the waffles were pleasantly crispy. Also, the caramel was laid on heavy and didn't quite yet manage to be absorbed the waffles. That would have been enough by itself, but then half of it was dipped in a really rich dark chocolate, which paired perfectly against the sweetness of the caramel. Granted, they're $5 per waffle sandwich, but they are so much better than the grocery store stroopwafel!Chocolate Covered Candied Orange Peels: I absolutely love the combination of candied orange peel and chocolate. They use thin slivers of orange peel and a pretty significant dip of dark chocolate, so it is more chocolate-centric. But the beauty of candied orange peel is that even a little goes a long way.Raspberry Truffle: Like a traditional truffle with a hard dark chocolate shell and creamy chocolatey center, that just happens to have a strong raspberry aroma. Indulgent to just let it melt in your mouth.Passionfruit Truffle: Feels less like a truffle and more like a filled chocolate. Which actually, I like more since I love fruit filling (especially passionfruit), so the fruit paste center against the dark chocolate shell is just amazing.Orange Cardamom Truffle: Had the same light creamy filling as the passionfruit. Apparently coconut and white chocolate contribute to that. The flavoring, orange and cardamom, was very subtle though. So it tasted noticeably like coconut, unlike the powerful passionfruit version.Salted Caramel: It wasn't terribly caramelly. The center was only slightly chewy and tasted just as much of chocolate as of caramel. Kinda strange since the gooey caramel used in the waffles was so good!

Caught them at the Mountain View Farmer's Market and got some goodies. The fudge popsicle was outstanding! And hit the spot on the hot day. Healthy but super creamy and chocolatey at the same time. I also tried their chocolate truffles which were smooth in texture and not too sweet. Definitely check 'em out if you like healthy and tasty treats!

Chocolates from here are so good! I ordered from their website and picked up from their west Oakland location. They were communicative and prompt with my order. I got truffle samplers for Mother's Day gifts. They wrapped them and wrote a note for me. The chocolates are excellent. I got some bars too and the quality is outstanding.

I been to See's Chocolate and Ghirardelli Square. But none of them makes any difference to me since their chocolates are sweet and bitter. What is missing is that none of them are USDA organic. Ever since I read the email from Green America about the child labor, I feel like I had to speak out, but I can't. There has to be some alternatives. On my way into Farmer's Market of Crocker Galleria, I went into one of the unique vendors that makes the difference, Bisou Chocolate. For the first time in my life, I sample various pieces of chocolates that are strongly bitter; however, I had never been convinced yet. Second day into Bisou in the Green Festival; still not convinced. Next day in Rainbow Groceries, I happened to see Numi's new set of teas, the Indulgence Tea. By the time I read about where and when the chocolates were first fermented, I know I had to keep looking deeper. Then by this year, I headed over to Bisou Chocolate in Mission Farmer's Market to sample the same various pieces of chocolates one last time and this time, I bought the cacao nibs bar for $5 so that I give each pieces to my family and friends. Thus, my craving for chocolates lies in Bisou and other fair trade chocolate companies.I'm hoping to expect more from Bisou such as Dagoba's drinking chocolate and Dandelion Chocolate different pastries. That will help keep the business owners running. Plus, I'm hoping Bisou Chocolate will help make children's lives easier when it comes to fair trade.So, does anyone want to try Bisou's chocolates?

Bisou Chocolate is wonderful - I picked up lots of chocolate curbside to put in my going local holiday baskets, along with Red Bay Coffee, Faction and Almanac beers, and St George Spirits goods. Their service was excellent and the chocolate - so darn good!

Yesterday I went to the Kensington Farmers' Market to buy an assortment of Indie Cake's macarons as a treat for our son-in-law, who hasn't tasted one. I walked through and Indie Cakes didn't have a booth set up. I had walked by Bisou on the way in and stopped by on the way out. I chatted w/ Tracy, the proprietor, who agreed it was unusual that Indie Cakes wasn't there. Later I surmised that Anastasia may have been at the Solano Stroll, but wasn't going to walk up and down Solano in search of her. I will try again next week.Bisou makes dark chocolate, which is Kevin's preference as well as mine. They use organic ingredients and make a point of knowing the farmers who grow their cacao, which comes from a variety of South and Central American countries. Tracy gave me tastes of all four of their bars: 76% American, 78% Silk, 86% Bitter and 87% Nibs, which is Bitter w/ cocoa nibs added for texture. They charge $5 each or $13 for 3 bars. I chose Silk, American and Nibs. They were all delicious, each in its own way. She wrapped them together w/ a ribbon and put in a brochure explaining what each bar was comprised of and their process in making it. I couldn't pick a favorite. Maybe Kevin will.

This chocolate is the bomb! My favorites are the chocolate covered dates (unsweetened chocolate covering a date, awesome combo), and turtles (pecans and delicious caramel with chocolate and salt (!) surrounding. The owner is informative and fun to talk to. Yum.

Great place to get gourmet real authentic cocoa chocolate and great owners they are nice and friendly. Will be back!

Awesome chocolate! I bought some chocolates for friends-they loved the gift and will now be Bisou customers. I'll definitely be back!