Chocolatier Christopher Curtin, whose acclaimed Éclat chocolates are a Chester County treasure, was looking for a year-round source of freshly grown herbs. Longwood Gardens, whose horticulture expertise is widely known, was looking to garner deeper relationships with local master artisans. The result: a memorable fusion of chocolate and mint for all to enjoy.
Éclat Dark Chocolate Bar with Moroccan Mint, now available in our GardenShop and at Éclat Chocolate in West Chester. Photo by Morgan Cichewicz.
Since childhood, Curtin had been a fan of Longwood and believed that a collaboration would offer interesting possibilities. His love of experimenting with interesting herbs to create unexpected flavors and the idea of having fresh herbs year-round naturally drew him to think of Longwood.
Longwood was well aware of the esteemed Curtin, who spent 14 years in Europe studying the classic chocolate and pastry crafts. His popular West Chester-based store is located just minutes from the Gardens.
“From our very first meeting, it was obvious that we shared a passion for producing the highest-quality product possible,” explained Longwood Gardens Marketing Director Marnie Conley. “Combining our horticulture expertise with Éclat’s mastery of chocolate resulted in an extraordinary collaboration.”
That collaboration began in early 2015. Curtin came to Longwood to learn about our growing techniques and plant possibilities, while Longwood’s team visited Éclat to get a glimpse into the world of chocolate creation. After the initial visits, there was talk of using lavender, mint, thyme, and even rosemary for the chocolate.
Mint growing in Longwood's production greenhouses for use in the mint chocolate bar developed in conjunction with Éclat Chocolate in West Chester. Photo by William Hill.
Upon further testing, however, the Moroccan Mint grown in our greenhouses proved to be best suited for the chocolate bar. After being delivered a supply of fresh mint from the Gardens, Curtin set to work developing and refining the handcrafted chocolate. A highlight of the process was when the teams tasted the chocolate for the first time and were thrilled with its deep and pure flavors.
The bar’s beautiful packaging, created by Longwood’s Graphic Design Team, was inspired by a hand-colored engraving of Mentha spicata leaves found in the book English Botany, published in 1798, and part of Longwood's Rare Book Collection.
Éclat Dark Chocolate Bar with Moroccan Mint, with live plant and botanical illustration of Mentha spicata. Photo by Jennifer Fazekas.
You can enjoy the sweet result of this collaboration. The Dark Chocolate Bar with Moroccan Mint is available now at the GardenShop at Longwood Gardens and at Éclat Chocolate in West Chester.
