MEET THE CHOCOLATE MAKERS
OUR STORY
At Harvest Chocolate, we believe chocolate should be as thoughtful as it is delicious.
We’re Elizabeth and Matt, partners in life and in the kitchen, and the makers behind every bar, bite, and sip. After years in fine-dining kitchens—from San Francisco to New York—we came home to Michigan with a vision for something more grounded: chocolate that connects people to where cacao is grown and how it’s crafted—then pairs it with the beauty of Michigan’s seasonal produce.
That vision became Harvest Chocolate.
What inspired us most was the agriculture behind chocolate—the realization that cacao is a fruit, grown by farmers in tropical regions, and that every step of its journey—from harvest and fermentation to drying and transport—directly shapes how chocolate tastes. Understanding that process changed the way we saw chocolate, and we knew we had to share that story with others.
We source exceptional cacao from small farms around the world and pair it with seasonal fruits and organic ingredients grown close to home. Every product—from our signature Snacking Chocolate to our Seasonal Chocolate Bars and beyond—is handcrafted with care in our Tecumseh shop.
MEET MAYA
To help us bring that story to life, Maya, our Coordinator of Chocolate Experience, leads our monthly Chocolate Tastings. She guides guests through the world of cacao—from its agricultural roots to how to taste chocolate with intention. Her enthusiasm helps make every tasting richer and more connected.
For us, chocolate isn’t just a treat—it’s a connection to farmers, to flavor, and to the land it comes from. We hope you’ll taste the difference, and feel part of the journey with every bite.
THE VALUES BEHIND HARVEST CHOCOLATE:
HARVEST CHOCOLATE
ORIGIN MATTERS
Great chocolate starts with great cacao. And great cacao doesn’t happen by chance—it’s the result of careful work at origin.
We partner primarily with Dan O'Doherty at Cacao Services, one of the world’s leading experts in post-harvest handling of specialty cacao. Dan works directly with farmers to fine-tune fermentation and drying methods that bring out the best in each bean. He evaluates every lot himself and only offers beans he knows are exceptional.
Knowing how to assess and select high-quality cacao is essential to everything we do. It’s what allows us to craft chocolate with consistency, depth, and integrity—batch after batch.
HARVEST CHOCOLATE
SEASONALLY CRAFTED
The Process:
We craft every batch of chocolate from the bean up in our Tecumseh shop—roasting, grinding, tempering, and wrapping by hand. It’s slow, intentional work that gives us control over every detail, so we can bring out the best in each cacao bean.
The Ingredients:
Our ingredient lists are short, organic, and always purposeful. But what makes our chocolate truly special is how we bring in the seasons—pairing cacao with fruits and ingredients grown right here in Michigan. Whether it’s berries in the summer or cider flavors in the fall, we highlight the beauty of what’s growing around us.
This seasonal approach connects each bar to a time and place—and makes every batch a little different, just like the harvest.
HARVEST CHOCOLATE
SHARED EXPERIENCE
The Connection:
Chocolate is more than a product—it’s a way to connect. Whether you’re sharing a bar with a friend, sipping chocolate tea on a quiet afternoon, or joining us for a tasting, we believe chocolate is best experienced together.
The Invitation:
We created Harvest Chocolate to be a place where people can slow down, taste deeply, and learn something new. Through our monthly Chocolate Tastings—led by Maya, our Coordinator of Chocolate Experience—we explore the agricultural roots of cacao, the art of tasting, and the stories behind every origin.
These shared moments are at the heart of what we do. Because to us, chocolate isn’t just something you eat—it’s something you experience.