THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY BY BEYERS
72 North Reef Rd, Bedfordview, JHB
The stylish raw brick building, just off Van Buuren Road in Bedfordview, belies the chocolate fantasy inside. Much more than a shop, it’s pure chocolate indulgence under one roof. Kees Beyers, founder of Beyers Chocolates, has delivered a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-like experience with his Chocolate Café, where you can relax and unwind with a freshly brewed cup of coffee or tea, accompanied by a tempting treat from the cafe menu; The Chocolate Box, a shop that features a treasure trove of different chocolates and confectionery to take home; and the Chocolate Studio, where you can witness first hand the chocolate magic being made.
What was meant to be a quick pop in to write this story turned into a hours of gratifying my taste buds.
I sat with a friend at the Chocolate Café to savour some of the best hot chocolate I’ve ever tasted. We made a difficult choice from a menu that included single origin speciality hot chocolates like Zephyr white; a not-too-sweet white chocolate with an intense milk flavour, or the Ruby — naturally pink chocolate with intense fruitiness and fresh, sour notes. Yum. For the kill joys, there was also a sugar-free, dark, 54% hot chocolate — and for lovers of very dark chocolate, a 70% Ecuador dark, single origin chocolate with fruity coffee and rum notes.
Each delicious choice we made came to the table as a chocolate experience — a tall glass of hot full cream, frothy milk, the chosen chocolate, a generous helping of small, round, pure chocolate balls in a delicate container, a mini hand whisk to mix it all, accompanied by a single exquisite Beyers handmade chocolate to end it off — all for R60 for the complete experience. From a glass cabinet of delights, we selected a chocolate brownie, but it was no ordinary rectangle of confection. The large square was topped with pure Belgian chocolate ganache and layered with different textures of chocolate. Heavenly.
Leaving the cafe, we looked through the glass walls into the Chocolate Studio and feasted our eyes on chocolate experts at work crafting delectable pastries and confectionery. It’s here that you can attend a confectioner’s class and learn about the art of chocolate.
We arrived there a few days before the Easter weekend and found the Chocolate Box packed with shoppers. The shelves groaned with a variety intricately designed chocolates and confectionery to choose from. Easter fare abounded — from beautifully packed Belgian chocolate bunnies in all sizes, to chocolate eggs, some stuffed with Beyers Belgian chocolates. Marshmallow eggs spilt from antique chocolate machinery refashioned as containers, and for lovers of Sweetie Pies, there were lots of flavours from which to choose: original, mint and dark chocolate ones, to name a few. Beyers purchased the Sweetie Pie brand in 2015.
You can also buy bars of chocolates, boxed chocolates, nougat and other delights. For those who make chocolates from home, there’s a range of Belgian chocolate bags to choose from. You’ll also find chocolate brands here at a fraction of the price of what’s on offer in retail stores. My advice; go hungry, it’s all so tempting you’re bound to leave with plenty of chocolate baggage — both inside your body and out.
Open Monday to Friday, 8am-5pm, Saturday, 9am-2pm, closed Sunday and public holidays