Savory & Spiced Chocolate Bars That Will Surprise You at the Northwest Chocolate Festival 2025
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Olives, brown cheese, smoked cacao and seaweed—these daring chocolate bars are flipping the script on sweet
We’re falling for chocolate bars with a savory edge.
If your idea of chocolate begins and ends with caramel, peanut butter, or cookies and cream, the Northwest Chocolate Festival 2025 is about to change that.
This year, one of the boldest trends isn’t only floral—it’s savory.
Bean-to-bar makers from around the world are using unexpected ingredients like
- Norwegian brown cheese,
- olives,
- seaweed,
- and smoked salt
to reinvent what chocolate can taste like.
These bars are earthy, briny, smoky, spiced—and often more like gourmet appetizers than desserts. Whether you’re a flavor daredevil or just curious, this guide will point you to some of our favorite savory and spiced chocolate bars to try before the festival ends.
5 Savory & Spiced Chocolate Bars to Try at the Festival
1. Fjåk Chocolate – 45% Milk & Brown Cheese
Maker: Fjåk Chocolate
Travelling from: Norway
The Vibe: Nordic comfort food meets dessert.
Why Try It?
Made with real Norwegian brunost (brown cheese), this bar tastes like chocolate-covered caramel toast—with a faint tang that keeps it grounded. It’s rich, creamy, and way more accessible than it sounds.
Tasting Notes:
-
Aroma: Whey, buttered toast, soft caramel
-
Flavor: Milky chocolate with a savory-sweet cheese finish
-
Texture: Creamy with slight grain from the cheese.
Perfect For: The milk base makes it great for those new to savory chocolate—this is as comforting as it is curious.
2. Ara Chocolat – 70% Tingo de Maria with Olives
Maker: Ara Chocolat
Travelling from: France.
Why Try It?
Yes, this bar contains real olives—and somehow it totally works. Fruity, briny Nyons olives are chopped and added to Venezuelan Criollo cacao, offering a Mediterranean twist on traditional dark chocolate.
Tasting Notes:
- Aroma: Olive oil, dark chocolate
- Flavor: Subtle olive fruit layered over rich, earthy cacao
- Texture: Classic chocolate snap with soft olive bit
Best For: A must-try for olive lovers or those who enjoy savory-sweet contrasts (like prosciutto and melon or figs and cheese).
3. BOHO Chocolate – Milk + Smoked Hickory Sea Salt 51%
Maker: BOHO Chocolate
Travelling from: Oakland, USA
Why Try It?
This bar is the sweet-savory hybrid you didn’t know you needed. Smooth, creamy milk chocolate is laced with smoked sea salt, creating a balance of sweet, salty, and smoky that keeps you coming back.
Tasting Notes:
- Aroma: Burnt sugar, warm spice
- Flavor: Rich milk chocolate with pockets of savory salt
- Texture: Creamy with occasional salt crystal crunch
Festival Tip: BOHO Chocolate has a few surprise inclusions in their range. Keep an eye out for their Potato Chip bar and their Turmeric Swirl!
4. The Organic House – BBQ Cookout 70%
Maker: The Organic House
Travelling from: Canada
The Vibe: Campfire in a chocolate bar.
Why Try It?
This vegan, cold-smoked bar is the closest thing to chocolate barbecue you’ll ever taste. Using Philippine cacao and real hickory smoke (no artificial flavorings), it’s a beautiful tribute to fire and flavor.
Tasting Notes:
-
Aroma: Charcoal, toasted cacao
-
Flavor: Dark chocolate with whispers of smoke
-
Texture: Smooth with a smoldering finish
Pair up! Sip with black tea, mezcal, or a smoked whisky for full effect. And if you want to test the smokiness, have it with a sweeter bar for a strong contrast.
5. Mike & Becky – Pecorino Chocolate Bar 65%
Maker: Mike & Becky
Travelling from: Belgium
The Vibe: The perfect cheeseboard pairing.
Why Try It?
This bar takes boldness to a new level by blending real Italian Pecorino cheese with smooth dark chocolate. The result is funky, creamy, and umami-rich—with a sharp, nutty edge that lingers like aged parmesan.
Tasting Notes:
-
Aroma: Aged cheese, dark cocoa, and roasted nuts
-
Flavor: Earthy cacao with savory cheese depth and a tangy finish
-
Texture: Smooth base with occasional cheesy flecks
Festival Tip: Cheese lovers, daring foodies, or anyone who’s ever thought, “What if charcuterie was dessert?”.
.
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This is why Savory Chocolate Is Having a Moment
Savory ingredients in chocolate may sound strange, but they’re rooted in ancient traditions and new culinary creativity.
From chili-laced Mexican cacao to cheese-infused milk bars in Scandinavia, chocolate has always had savory potential:
- Savory bars balance sweetness without overwhelming it
- Ingredients like cheese, smoke, and salt enhance cacao’s complexity
- They cater to those looking for low-sugar, high-flavor alternatives
At the festival, these bars form yet another standout category.
How to Tackle Savory Chocolate
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.
These bars might be intense so save tasting these bars later in the day or start with lighter flavors and end with more bold ones to keep your tastebuds in check.
Pack some neutral palate cleansers to help you reset. Plain crackers and water is our pick.
Let your taste buds rest between intense bars. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Planning Your Northwest Chocolate Festival Day
Here’s what you need to know to make your 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
FAQ: Savory Chocolate Edition
Wait… chocolate with cheese? Seaweed? Really?
Yes—and it’s more delicious than it sounds. Savory chocolate bars use ingredients like cheese, sea salt, smoke, and olives to highlight the natural depth of cacao. They’re not gimmicks—they’re flavor experiments done right.
Is savory chocolate just a trend, or here to stay?
Savory bars have been around in small craft circles for years, but in 2025, they’ve hit the mainstream. As more people look for low-sugar and flavor-forward options, savory chocolate offers something unexpected and satisfying.
Will it taste weird or… bad?
Not if you go in with an open mind. These bars are balanced, layered, and carefully crafted—not novelty items. Think of them like wine and cheese pairings or charcuterie boards—just in chocolate form.
What’s the best savory chocolate bar to try first?
Start with something mild and approachable like:
- Fjåk’s Brown Cheese Milk Chocolate (creamy + caramelized)
- BOHO’s Smoked Sea Salt Milk Chocolate (salty-sweet + familiar)
Work your way up to more adventurous options like:
- Mike & Becky’s Pecorino Bar (funky + bold)
- Aroko’s Olive Dark Chocolate (briny + Mediterranean)
Where can I buy these after the festival?
Many of these bars are limited-batch and only available online or at specialty retailers. Grab what you can at the festival, and check the makers’ websites or Instagram for restocks.
Go Bold or Go Home.
Savory and spiced chocolate bars may not be for everyone—but they’re definitely not boring.
Whether you’re team cheese, team smoke, or team “why not?”, these bars push the boundaries of what chocolate can be.
These global chocolate makers are pushing boundaries and introducing the world to flavors they love.
You’re not just tasting chocolate—you’re tasting technique, terroir, and imagination. So follow your curiosity, take a bite, and don’t be afraid to surprise yourself.
Want more chocolate reviews like this? Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive tasting notes, festival guides, and small-batch picks from around the globe. As always, thanks heaps for talking beans with us.
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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