The sweet life

Sep 24 2009 by Jo Henwood, Chester Chronicle

Women love chocolate and Jo Beevers is no exception to the rule. JO HENWOOD talks to the region’s new chocolatier about the idea behind her company, Kokonoir.

Switzerland and Belgium vie for the title of the home of chocolate but Broughton, on the border of Chester and North Wales, may soon be joining the competition.

Jo Beevers, a 30-year-old mum of two, has converted a room in her family home to produce chocolate to die for.

“Our chocolate tastes fabulous,” she said. “We concentrate on the flavour and once people taste it they buy.”

Jo has set up Kokonoir with her husband Toby, who has recently taken over the role of executive chef at the University of Chester.

Toby, a former pastry chef at the Grosvenor Hotel and Spa, and Jo, were inspired to make their own chocolate, following a holiday in Australia.

“I’m passionate about chocolate and there are a lot of chocolate shops there,” said Jo. “I love experimenting and creating new flavours.”

Kokonoir comes in four flavours which are sold in two sizes – dark chocolate with 70% cocoa solids, dark chocolate with orange oil, milk chocolate with vanilla and white chocolate and raspberries.

It retails at £1.95 for a 50g bar and £3.75 for the larger 100g bars.

Jo has her hands full at home looking after daughter Amelia, three and Ben, two, so makes the chocolate fresh in small batches of about 30 bars at a time.

“I end up making the chocolate when they have a nap or during the evening when they are asleep,” she said.

“I package the chocolate in a see-through bag so that you can see the quality,” said Jo.

“We do a lot of sampling so that people get a chance to taste it and then talk about it.”

Kokonoir Chocolate is on sale at Hawarden Fruit Farm, at The Old Sweet Shop in St Werburgh Street in Chester and will soon be available from Hollies Farm Shop in Little Budworth.