PACKED...with sweetness Olive & Sinclair Chocolate Co., Nashville, TN

More chocolate? Heck, yes - especially since it's one of my favorite foods. Make that chocolate organic, ethically sourced, and stone ground, and I'm even more interested. Such was the case during our group visit to Olive & Sinclair Chocolate Co., which bills its products as 'Southern Artisan Chocolate.' The state’s only bean-to-bar chocolate maker, this small operation uses pure brown sugar plus cacao without preservatives. Everything is hand molded with shipping available throughout US plus overseas.

From the moment we arrived, at this Nashville shop, I felt intrigued by what we would find. I wasn't disappointed. The retail space exuded an old-school vibe, from antique shelves that displayed vintage-inspired labels on round containers of specialty candies, to the vintage Hershey's cupboard that supported a broad display of chocolate bars. 

Gregarious owner, Scott Witherow, hosted our brief tour of the small factory, where we saw cacao roasting and the massive stone grinder, which help to create Olive & Sinclair chocolate. We also watched as an employee enrobed small candies from a compact assembly line. 
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But, the number one draw, for me, was the chocolate bars. They broke with a cracker-like snap and burst onto my tongue with rich chocolate goodness. Luscious flavor profiles such as Mexican-Style Cinnamon Chili (a 2012 Specialty Food Association Silver Finalist for Best Chocolate), Salt & Pepper (a 2010 Specialty Food Association Silver Finalist for Best Chocolate), or 67% and 75% Cacao, aren't your kid's chocolate bars either.


If you're visiting Nashville and love great chocolate, pay a visit to Olive & Sinclair Chocolate Co. For a small charge, book a factory tour too, beginning July 11, 2020. Make your reservation here.

​Please note: As a writer associated with the travel industry, I received a complimentary tour, and several sample chocolate bars for the purpose of this review. While it has not influenced this post, I wish to disclose all potential conflicts of interest.​

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