Skelligs Chocolate

Description

The home of small delights by the sea. This is a new partnership between two very compatible chocolatiers: Skelligs, who specializes in more classic chocolate concoctions, and Cocoa Bean, who does more contemporary bars. Between the two of them, they cover it all. Both dazzle with their expertise in making inspired, gourmet chocolates.

Cocoa Bean was born three and a half years ago from the passion and experimentation of two English sisters. They tried and tasted and did all the tough work of creating some uniquely flavored combinations using natural ingredients. They went to the Limerick Milk Market to sell their creations, and the rest is history. We discovered their chocolate bars at a shop in Ennis. Wrapped in brightly colored tissue paper, the bars are sold in squares or rectangles. The flavor combinations are out of this world: Lime and Black Pepper, Irish Honey, Wildflower, and Fire, which delivers some “fearsome heat.” We loved the new bar, 72% chocolate with the wonderful texture of cocao nibs.

Skelligs has been in operation for twelve years and specializes in fine chocolate truffles. They use a high content of quality cocoa butter in their distinctive truffles - the milk chocolate contains at least 33.5% to up to 45%. This makes the truffles melt luxuriously in your mouth, disappearing without of whisper of a trace. Varieties include hazelnut praline, whiskey cream (a few of these will get you tipsy), and vanilla-infused dark chocolate truffle, with a 54% cocoa shell surrounding the gouache center. All truffles are made by hand, and you can taste and buy a few for the road here. Watch out, they melt fast in your car, which is another good excuse for eating them as soon as possible.

How to get there

By car:

From Waterville, leave on N70 toward Caherciveen. Take a left for Ballinskelligs, either on the R567 or R 566. Pass through Ballinskelligs and continue on for Portmagee. Skelligs Chocolate Co. is located 500 meters before St. Finian’s Bay beach.

From Caherciveen, leave on N70 heading toward Waterville. Pass “The Old School House Restaurant” on the left, 1.6 km (1 mile) later, turn right onto R565 at Sheenan’s Food Store. After 1.9 km (1.2 miles), turn left over bridge onto R566 for Ballinskelligs. Follow road to St. Finian’s Bay. Skelligs Chocolate Co. is located 500 meters past the beach on the left.

By bus:

See www.buseireann.ie website for all current travel details and restrictions.

Opening times

February – June:

Monday to Friday from 10AM to 5PM. Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5PM.

July – August:

Monday to Friday from 10AM to 5PM. Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5PM.

September – December:

Monday to Friday from 10AM to 5PM. Not open weekends.

Address

Skelligs Chocolate Co.

St. Finian’s Bay