Chocolala

Chocolala is an Estonian confectionery company established in Tallinn in 2013 by a married couple whose professional backgrounds were in law and banking. The founders described their purpose as reviving Estonia's tradition of luxury chocolate while adapting older recipes to contemporary tastes and developing new products around Nordic and Estonian ingredients. Commercial production began in June 2014, after which the company built a reputation for handmade confectionery, visual presentation, and recipes that combine chocolate with ingredients associated with the region's forests and culinary culture. The brand's product approach is centered on small-batch manufacture and craft presentation rather than mass-market volume. Its recipes have used berries such as lingonberry, sea buckthorn, raspberry, bilberry, and blackcurrant, alongside ingredients including juniper, kama, birch syrup, local handcrafted gin, Vana Tallinn liqueur, spruce sprouts, and reindeer moss. The combination of chocolate with local botanical and cultural references gives Chocolala a distinctly Estonian and Nordic identity. Handmade and hand-painted chocolate figures are among its recognizable offerings. Chocolala also presents itself through heritage and visitor experiences. In February 2018, production and a showcase shop moved to a historical building at Suur-Karja Street 20 / Pärnu Road 12 in Tallinn Old Town, close to Freedom Square. The premises were built in 1899–1900 for Tallinn's German Club. In June 2018, the company opened the Chocolala Chocolate Museum there, with collections covering Estonian chocolate makers from 1806 through the 1950s. This museum function connects the contemporary brand with the longer history of chocolate production in Estonia. The company expanded into bean-to-bar chocolate in 2019, broadening its offer beyond finished confectionery and signaling greater involvement in the chocolate-making process. In May of the same year, it received certification to the ISO 22000:2018 food-safety management standard. Chocolala was described as the first Estonian company to receive Fairtrade certification. It was also ranked as Estonia's second chocolate manufacturer and fourth chocolate company overall in 2018, according to the available reference material. Recognition has included awards at the International Chocolate Awards in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2019, as well as a Best Estonian Food Award in 2016 for a reindeer-moss chocolate product. The company was nominated for Estonia's best responsible company in 2015, was included among Fodor's Travel's top ten international chocolate shops in 2016, and received a Golden Egg Award at Estonia's national advertising festival in 2019. Taken together, these distinctions position Chocolala as a premium Estonian chocolate specialist whose proposition combines handmade production, regional ingredients, heritage storytelling, tourism, and responsible sourcing.

Chocolala was founded in Tallinn in 2013 by a husband-and-wife team, identified in reference material by their professions as a lawyer and a banker. Their stated ambition was to restore an Estonian luxury-chocolate tradition while updating established recipes and creating new ones suited to modern tastes. The company began production in June 2014 and developed around handmade confectionery, premium presentation, and recipes drawing on Estonian and broader Nordic food culture. A defining aspect of Chocolala's identity is its use of regional ingredients. Its chocolate recipes have incorporated Northern European berries including lingonberries, sea buckthorn, raspberries, bilberries, and blackcurrants. Other ingredients associated with the brand include juniper, kama, birch syrup, local handcrafted gin, Vana Tallinn liqueur, spruce sprouts, and reindeer moss. These ingredients give the products a strong geographic character and distinguish the company from chocolate businesses built primarily around standardized international flavor profiles. Handmade and hand-painted chocolate figures became particularly popular products. Chocolala was described as the first Estonian company to receive Fairtrade certification. Its early recognition included three International Chocolate Awards in 2015, a nomination for Estonia's best responsible company in the same year, and inclusion among Fodor's Travel top ten international chocolate shops in 2016. The company also received a Best Estonian Food Award in 2016 for chocolate made with reindeer moss. Further International Chocolate Awards followed in 2017, 2018, and 2019. In February 2018, Chocolala moved its production facilities and showcase shop into a historical Tallinn Old Town building near Freedom Square, at Suur-Karja Street 20 / Pärnu Road 12. The building had been constructed in 1899–1900 for Tallinn's German Club by architects Rudolf von Engelhardt and Nikolai Thamm Jr. The move created a setting in which manufacturing, retail, and cultural interpretation could operate together. In June 2018, Chocolala opened its Chocolate Museum in the same location. Its holdings cover Estonian chocolate makers from 1806 to the 1950s, allowing the modern company to frame its products within a national confectionery history. The company was ranked in 2018 as Estonia's second chocolate manufacturer and fourth chocolate company overall, according to the available reference. In 2019 it introduced bean-to-bar products, extending its activities toward a more complete craft-chocolate model. In May 2019 it achieved ISO 22000:2018 food-safety management certification. That year it also received three International Chocolate Awards and a Golden Egg Award at Estonia's national advertising festival. The available material does not identify the founders by name, disclose ownership or financial results, or provide a detailed account of distribution beyond Estonia. On the documented record, Chocolala's development is best understood as the growth of a Tallinn-based premium chocolate specialist that links handmade production and regional ingredients with responsible sourcing, awards, a retail showcase, and a museum dedicated to Estonia's chocolate heritage.

• 2019

  Bean-to-bar launch and ISO certification

  [1]Chocolalaen.wikipedia.org

  Chocolala launched bean-to-bar products, obtained ISO 22000:2018 certification, won three International Chocolate Awards, and received a Golden Egg Award.

• 2018

  Move to Tallinn Old Town and museum opening

  [1]Chocolalaen.wikipedia.org

  Production and the showcase shop moved to a historical building in February, followed by the opening of the Chocolala Chocolate Museum in June.

• 2016

  Museum and food-industry recognition builds

  [1]Chocolalaen.wikipedia.org

  The brand was listed among Fodor's Travel top ten international chocolate shops and won a Best Estonian Food Award for reindeer-moss chocolate.

• 2015

  Early international recognition

  [1]Chocolalaen.wikipedia.org

  Chocolala received three International Chocolate Awards and was nominated for Estonia's best responsible company.

• 2014

  Production begins

  [1]Chocolalaen.wikipedia.org

  Commercial chocolate production began in June.

• 2013

  Company founded in Tallinn

  [1]Chocolalaen.wikipedia.org

  Chocolala was established by a husband-and-wife team seeking to revive Estonia's luxury chocolate tradition.

A premium Estonian and Nordic chocolate brand combining luxury handmade confectionery, small-batch and bean-to-bar production, locally resonant ingredients, Fairtrade sourcing, and chocolate heritage tourism.

• Premium confectionery · 2014

  Handmade chocolate

  Chocolala's core range consists of handmade chocolate and related confectionery produced in small batches. The recipes are influenced by Estonian and Nordic culinary traditions and use regional berries, botanicals, syrups, liqueurs, and other ingredients. The emphasis is on craft production, premium presentation, and flavors that communicate a connection to Northern European landscapes and food culture.

• Craft chocolate · 2019

  Bean-to-bar chocolate

  Introduced in 2019, Chocolala's bean-to-bar line expanded the company from handmade finished confectionery into a format associated with greater control over the chocolate-making process. The line fits the brand's small-batch positioning and reinforces its focus on craft production, provenance, and premium chocolate experiences.

• Decorative confectionery

  Chocolate figures

  Handmade and hand-painted chocolate figures are among Chocolala's popular offerings. These products combine confectionery with visual craftsmanship and are an important part of the company's gift-oriented and showcase presentation. The available reference does not provide a complete catalogue of figure designs or product specifications.

• Flavored chocolate

  Regional ingredient chocolate recipes

  The brand develops chocolate recipes using ingredients associated with Estonia and the Nordic region, including lingonberry, sea buckthorn, raspberry, bilberry, blackcurrant, juniper, kama, birch syrup, handcrafted gin, Vana Tallinn liqueur, spruce sprouts, and reindeer moss. These combinations provide a distinctive regional signature and support Chocolala's positioning as an Estonian luxury chocolate maker.

• Visitor experience · 2018

  Chocolala Chocolate Museum

  Opened in June 2018 at the company's Tallinn Old Town premises, the museum presents collections relating to Estonian chocolate makers from 1806 to the 1950s. It extends Chocolala's role beyond product sales by connecting its contemporary chocolate business with the country's confectionery history.

• 2019

  Launch bean-to-bar productsProduct launch

  Background

  After building its identity around handmade and small-batch chocolate, Chocolala expanded into a more process-oriented craft chocolate format.

  Action taken

  The company introduced bean-to-bar products in 2019.

  Aftermath

  The launch broadened the brand's craft offering and aligned it with its premium, small-batch positioning.

  Source

• 2018

  Move production and retail into Tallinn Old TownStrategy

  Background

  Chocolala sought a setting that could support production, customer-facing retail, and a stronger connection to Estonian heritage.

  Action taken

  The company moved production and its showcase shop to a historical building near Freedom Square in February 2018.

  Aftermath

  The location subsequently hosted the Chocolala Chocolate Museum, opened in June 2018, creating an integrated shop, production, and heritage experience.

  Source

• 2018

  Open the Chocolala Chocolate MuseumProduct launch

  Background

  The company used its Tallinn Old Town premises to present the history of chocolate making in Estonia.

  Action taken

  Chocolala opened a museum in June 2018 with collections covering Estonian chocolate makers from 1806 to the 1950s.

  Aftermath

  The museum strengthened the brand's cultural and visitor-oriented dimension alongside its confectionery business.

  Source

1. 1Chocolalaen.wikipedia.org