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Meet chocolatiers Jonathon and Justine, the founders behind Rose Chocolates.
SoLo Craft Fair sits down with the pair to discuss how the bespoke brand came into being and what customers can expect from the moment they open the box to that final, lasting taste.
Jonathon has been a chef for almost 10 years and a pastry chef for nearly 8 years. He’s also a chocolatier – the Rose Chocolates brand began after he took a number of chocolate making courses and discovered a passion for creating beautiful flavours and tastes.
Jonathon has worked in a variety of settings including hotels, restaurants, and private member clubs such as Tom’s Kitchen, Blue Print, Charlotte Street Hotel, Hotel Cafe Royal, The Hari, and many more!
Justine is the content creator for Rose Chocolates and the chocolate designer, hand painting the chocolate art. She is also a paediatric nurse, with training in the assessment and treatment of mental health. She hopes to help heal and encourage feelings and expressions with her chocolate designs.
Rose Chocolates began because both Jonathon and Justine believe in mindful eating and creating a beautiful, bespoke experience through art, food and self-care.
“We believe food should be eaten mindfully so we take pride in creating a full experience from opening the box to the very final taste.”
Rose Chocolates is a small, handmade chocolate business that began in 2018 after the completion of much research, testing and trialling.
The aim was to create luxury handmade chocolates that are bursting with flavour and beautifully crafted. The pair also wanted the consumer to indulge in a mindful and pleasurable self-care experience evoking therapeutic, emotional and mouth-watering feelings.
The brand specialises in creating bespoke, personalised, luxury and divine chocolates as both gifts and for events.
“The most valuable aspect of Rose Chocolates is that our customers are able to create chocolates that are personal for them, for their desires and their wishes. We want to add that special touch to your event or provide that ultimate gift!”
The chocolates are handmade using fresh ingredients. They are painted by hand to create a more unique, mindful gift.
“Not only can chocolates boost our mood but, together with their artistic design, they can also stir up a soothing, mindful emotion and a synesthesia experience for the consumer.”
Jonathon and Justine have created chocolates for many events including weddings, anniversaries, company launch events, as company gifts, and as part of a series of master class events. Customers can personalise from a range of flavours and even have the option of suggesting specific flavours, shapes, designs and colours. The brand also creates chocolate art for occasions, often with an underlying and thoughtful message. Their Mother’s Day chocolate collection, for example, communicates the feeling of motherhood with spring fruits and flowers painted on chocolate macaroons, and their Zuri African collection celebrates black history and art.
“Our aim is to create beautiful experiences combining chocolate and art. We hope to create a self-care indulgent treat to gift, to enjoy for yourself or to have at a memorable event.”
Jonathon and Justine hope to expand the brand going forward and reach a wider audience by supplying to more shops. They advise other aspiring makers to keep on striving and to remain consistent. “It may seem like it is taking a long time to receive results but consistency is key! Know your product, love your product, know what makes your product the best and spread the word among others.”