Chocolatier to tempt Taupo¯
There’s nothing like a passion for all things chocolate and Taupo¯ residents are lucky enough to now have their own chocolatier.
Paul Masters and his Huka Falls Chocolate factory has only been open for a week but that hasn’t stopped the influx of customers to try his handmade creations.
With the popularity of his chocolates already evident, Masters is going to promote them with #LOVETAUPOCHOCOLATE.
It took Masters three months of prep work before he finally opened the doors to the chocolate shop last week.
Having spent the past seven years in Australia learning all things chocolate, Masters decided it was time to bring that experience to Taupo¯ and share his passion with some Kiwis.
‘‘I love all things chocolate and I love all things coffee,’’ he said.
While in Australia, Masters trained in Melbourne and worked in Sydney and the Blue Mountains as a vineyard general manager and also a general manager of a chocolate company.
After some time away, Masters was keen to come back.
‘‘I first moved to Taupo¯ 11 years ago and I was keen to get back and do my own thing,’’ he said.
‘‘When this came up I thought it was a good opportunity.’’
Starting the chocolate factory hasn’t been all smooth sailing for Masters though.
‘‘Getting the temperates right in the kitchen was a bit tricky,’’ he said.
‘‘I lost 70 per cent of production but have managed to find the right temperature now.’’
Masters prides himself on his ingredients, which is sourced from New Zealand.
‘‘I found, a lot of people are not aware of what’s in their backyard. What I have found is absolute quality, it’s just not quantity.’’
Masters loves being creative with his chocolate but the most difficult one to date is his model of Mt Ruapehu, which took him one hour to make nine.
‘‘It’s flavours include pohoi blue cheese and is infused with Tawny Port,’’ he said.
‘‘But right now the cheese is very powerful. It’s fine when it’s first done but after sitting for a bit the cheese becomes powerful.’’But I love to experiment and see what works.’’
*Huka Falls Chocolates is located inside Shooters Golf Range 703 Karetoto Road