L'Artisan du Chocolat

Ever tried lapsang souchong flavoured chocolate? How about Sichuan pepper or red wine and tobacco? If not, you probably haven't yet visited L'Artisan du Chocolat, an innovative, highly revered, choc shop. Trained in Belgium (the home of chocolate), ex-pastry chef Gerard Coleman has elevated this simple art of making chocolate to an art form. While some of the flavours might seem a tad unusual, you just have to trust Coleman's expertise and judgement and dive right in. All of the chocolates are made entirely of natural ingredients (one of which is large quantities of sugar) and have to be consumed within two weeks - no nasty additives or preservatives here. While there's no point singling one particular flavour out for special attention - every one of these hand-made delicacies is a real tongue-tingling delight - most customers become instantly addicted to a favourite combination that demands regular return visits. For some it's the fresh blast of Moroccan mint, others the comforting spice-filled eruption of cinnamon. A range of beautifully presented assortment boxes allow you to experience a range of flavours and invest in some hard taste-bud testing before deciding on your chosen favourite. Keep an eye / tongue out for the liquid-salted caramels. Chocolate-filled heaven. This Westbourne Grove store is the second stand-alone shop to open, you'll find the original L'Artisan du Chocolat at 89 Lower Sloane Street. You can also find these deletable chocolates on a stall at Borough Market (Saturdays 9am-4pm) and at Selfridges, down the stairs from the foodhall where they have also a concession.

Best for:
Moroccan mint to banana and thyme, liquid salted caramels, truffles and tasty sweet treats.