Asia’s Artisan Chocolate Makers: Bold Flavors & Rare Origins You’ll Love at NW Chocolate Fest
Published
26 August 2025
Asia’s craft chocolate scene is lighting up palates like never before. From Tokyo’s delicate floral balance to Taiwan’s rugged, award‑winning terroir, makers are weaving together tea infusions, rare cacao genetics, […]
Asia’s craft chocolate scene is lighting up palates like never before.
From Tokyo’s delicate floral balance to Taiwan’s rugged, award‑winning terroir, makers are weaving together tea infusions, rare cacao genetics, tropical fruit, and cultural storylines in every bar. If you’re chasing origin, artistry, and flavor depth, the Asian booths at Northwest Chocolate Festival 2025 are must‑visits.
Every bar at these booths is a passport—one square will take you:
- from the bustling streets of Fukuoka
- to misty tea farms near Donggang, Taiwan
- to the abundant spice markets of Dubai
Whether you lean toward creamy milk bars with floral lift, fruit‑and‑spice combinations, or bold single‑origin darks, Asia’s makers deliver passion, story, and rarity. Let’s explore what they offer—and just how far they’ve come to share it with Seattle.
But before we get to that:
Fun Facts: Distance & Dedication
- Tokyo, Japan to Seattle is approximately 4,770 miles (≈ 7,700 km) in a straight‑line flight.
- Taipei (Ping‑Tung / Donggang), Taiwan to Seattle clocks in at about 6,060 miles (≈ 9,750 km).
- Dubai, UAE to Seattle is approximately 7,450 miles (≈ 11,990 km) as the crow flies — making Mirzam Chocolate Makers one of the farthest-traveling exhibitors at the festival. That’s nearly a 15-hour direct flight
Karü Chocolate’s journey spans continents — starting in Bogotá, Colombia, traveling to Dubai, UAE, and finally landing in Seattle, WA. That’s over 9,500 miles (≈ 15,300 km) in total! This truly global brand brings Latin American flavor and Middle Eastern flair.
These distances make each bit of flavor, innovation, and craftsmanship feel even more special—they’re not just shipping chocolate, but carrying culture, story, and terroir across continents.
Below are five must-try floral chocolate bars that bring serious flavor and fragrance to the table.
Spotlight on Asian Makers You’ll Want to Taste
Here are the Asian artisan booths bringing rare origins, bold experimentation, and flavor stories to your taste map:
1. green bean to bar CHOCOLATE – Tokyo Hail 70% Dark Chocolate
Maker: Green Bean to Bar Chocolate
Travelling from: Tokyo to Seattle: ~4,800 miles (≈ 7,725 km) — a 10-hour flight crossing the Pacific!
Bar to Try:
Tokyo Hail 70% Dark Chocolate
This bar captures the poetry of contrast: bold single-origin cacao meets a crunchy burst of cacao nib “hail” on top. It’s green bean to bar’s nod to Tokyo’s shifting skies—refined, textural, and deeply satisfying.
Also Look For: Kumamoto × Madagascar 70%, Bankan Citrus Dark, Phantom Cacao Set
Why Stop Here: Their Tokyo-based workshop is known for elegant flavor balance, ultra-clean design, and a focus on traceable ingredients. Ask about their heirloom bean projects!
2. Fu Wan Chocolate – Double Fermented 70% Dark Chocolate
Maker: Fu Wan Chocolate
Travelling from: Ping Tung to Seattle: ~6,500 miles (≈ 10,460 km) — a long-haul flight worth the flavor adventure.
Bar to Try:
Double Fermented 70% Dark Chocolate
Using their exclusive two-stage fermentation process, Fu Wan extracts tropical fruit and floral notes from Taiwan’s award-winning native beans. It’s rich, complex, and layered—like a fine wine in bar form.
Also Look For: Taiwan #1 Dark 62%, Tea-Infused Bars with Oolong and Red Jade
Why Stop Here: Fu Wan won Gold at the International Chocolate Awards Asia and continues to redefine what terroir means in craft chocolate.
3. Mirzam Chocolate Makers – Fennel & Dates Dark Chocolate
Maker: Mirzam Chocolate Makers
Travelling from: Dubai to Seattle: ~7,450 miles (≈ 11,990 km) — one of the farthest-traveling makers at NW Chocolate Fest
Bar to Try:
Fennel & Dates Dark Chocolate
Inspired by traditional Emirati sweets, this bar blends sticky-sweet Medjool dates with aromatic fennel seeds. It’s warming, earthy, and rooted in local spice traditions—with beautifully designed packaging to match..
Also Look For: White Chocolate with Alphonso Mango, 70% Vietnam, Cardamom Coffee Bar
Traveler’s Tip: Mirzam’s branding is stunning—think Arabian astronomy and spice route maps. Great for gifting and tasting.
5. Siamaya Chocolate – Coconut Curry Tom Kha White Chocolate
Maker: Siamaya Chocolate
Travelling from: Chiang Mai to Seattle: ~7,300 miles (≈ 11,750 km) — and totally worth the trip for the flavor alone.
Bar to Try:
Coconut Curry Tom Kha White Chocolate
Yes, it’s inspired by Thailand’s famous tom kha soup—coconut milk, galangal, lemongrass, kaffir lime, and all. This bar is creamy, spicy, aromatic, and unlike anything else at the festival.
Also Look For: Mango Chili 70%, Durian Milk, Thai Tea Dark
Why It’s Wild: Siamaya doesn’t just infuse flavors—they recreate experiences. Their bars read like pages from a Thai street food cookbook in chocolate form.
6. Karü Chocolate – Cashew Milk Chocolate 50%
Maker: Karü Chocolate
Travelling from: Bogotá to Dubai to Seattle: Over 9,500 miles — Karü’s journey is as global as their flavor palette.
Bar to Try:
Cashew Milk Chocolate 50%
This creamy, dairy-free bar is made with slow-roasted Colombian cashews—rich, nutty, and silky smooth. A perfect match for Karü’s signature fusion style.
Also Look For: Lulada White Chocolate, Coconut Cream 50%, Maracuyá Passionfruit Milk
Why It’s Unique: Karü blends Latin American ingredients with Middle Eastern craftsmanship, creating bars that feel both exotic and deeply familiar.
And a shout out to: KESSHO – Lychee Rose 48% Dark Milk
Maker: KESSHO
Travelling from: Texas, USA- but with strong roots from Japan.
Bar to Try:
Lychee Rose 48% Dark Milk
This bar strikes the perfect balance between creamy dark milk chocolate and the gentle perfume of rose and lychee. Floral‑fruit fusion with creamy milk chocolate and tropical lift..
Also Look For: Yuzu 56% Dark Milk; Raspberry 57%; Hojicha White; Black Sesame White.
Insider Tip: They often roll out seasonal, festival‑inspired one‑offs tied to Japanese cultural or festival cycles—don’t miss the surprise releases.
Tasting Tips with a Global Twist
Firstly, don’t over think it. Take a bite and let it melt.
Some flavors jump out at us, others take time. It all depends on what flavors you’re already familiar with.
- Start light with tea‑infused and floral bars (Hojicha, Yuzu, Lychee Rose) to let your palate adjust.
- Then for the spice & fruit leap: Mango Chili, lulo‑fruit bar, or Mango/Chili combos will wake up everything.
- Finish strong with rare origins and darker single‑origin or profound terroir bars (Taiwan #10, Kumamoto × Madagascar) to soak up lingering flavors.
Planning Your Northwest Chocolate Festival Day
Here’s what you need to know to make your floral-tasting journey smooth and satisfying:
- What: The Northwest Chocolate Festival 2025
- Location: Meydenbauer Center, 11100 NE 6th St, Bellevue, Washington
- Dates: October 4–5, 2025
- Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (both days)
- Website: nwchocolate.com
For More details:
- See our headline article here: Northwest Chocolate Festival 2025: The Insider’s Guide for Chocoholics
- Check out our entire section dedicated to all things Northwest Chocolate here: Northwest Chocolate Festival 2025 Beanstalkr Guide
If you’re keen we’d love to see you at our session.
“Craft Chocolate: Flavors You Never Knew You Needed”. See here for details: Beanstalkr’s Session – Craft Chocolate: Flavors You Never Knew You Needed
See here for the full Northwest Chocolate Festival 2025 schedule: Northwest Chocolate Festival Schedule
Flavor Discovery
From:
- Tokyo’s whisper of blossoms and earth
- to Taiwan’s rugged, high‑altitude fermentations;
- from Thailand’s fragrant spice markets
- to the deserts and oases that inspire Dubai’s packaging and flavor stories
These makers bring their terroir, tradition, and flair straight to your tasting table.
Every bar here does more than deliver sweetness—it carries voice: of origin, altitude, climate, culture. By choosing to travel thousands of miles and ship rare beans, these makers are crafting stories you can taste.
So walk the aisles with curiosity.
Savor the bars slowly.
Ask questions.
Your festival experience isn’t just about quantity—it’s about connection, discovery, and that perfect moment when flavor, design, and origin all align.
Want More Like This?
Asia isn’t the only region bringing bold flavors and origin depth to the Northwest Chocolate Festival. If you’re hungry for more unique styles and global stories, check out these other guides:
Savory & Spiced Chocolate Bars That Will Surprise You
From olives and brown cheese to BBQ-smoked cacao—these bars break every sweet rule (and still work). Perfect for culinary risk-takers and flavor thrill-seekers.
Read the Savory & Spiced Chocolate Guide →
Floral-Infused Chocolate Bars to Brighten Your Festival Day
Aromatic, elegant, and surprisingly complex. These botanical bars pair chocolate with rose, lavender, gorse, and more.
Explore Floral Bars at NW Fest →
Tropical Fruit Bars That Taste Like Vacation
Mango, guava, açaí, passionfruit—these bars channel sun-soaked flavors into every square. Summer in bar form.
Discover Tropical Fruit Bars →
Where to next?
If you’re off to the Northwest Chocolate Festival 2025, we recommend:
And if you’re curious, we recommend:
And if you’re still not so sure, check out what events or makers are in your area:
Talk Beans with us!
Got any questions? Feedback? Want to hi say? Reach out below – we’re always happy to chat!
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