The Story of Saffire Handmade Chocolates
My dream, when I set up Saffire Chocolates, was to develop a small cottage-industry where I could indulge and share my passion and enjoyment for making chocolates.
I wanted my chocolates to be 'something different' and of luxurious good quality. To this end I have remained determined to use the very best quality, carefully selected and prepared ingredients. My chocolates are hand-crafted on the premises from natural, authentic ingredients, and where possible, I use locally sourced produce to bring a new dimension to traditional and unusual flavours.
After retiring from a life in education and being at a loose end, I decided to return to one of my earlier hobbies, making sweets, but wanting a new challenge, I decided to enrol on a distance learning course with the international School of Chocolate. After an intensive course I graduated as top student, worldwide, I then went to Belgium to hone my skills with one of their best independent Artisan Chocolatiers.
On my return I spent every spare minute making chocolate, it became an obesssion as well as a passion. My family and friends became my taste-testers and critics of my homemade delights, and they were soon to tell me that the chocolates were much better than I could have hoped, in fact they are part of the reason that what started out as a hobby has grown into Saffire Handmade Chocolates.
From the small start in a purpose built and converted garden summer house, Saffire Chocolates moved into its first shop in January 2006 and after two more moves we are based within the Taverham Nursery Centre complex but nothing really changes, except we have developed into a truely family business. Gary, my son has joined the company as an Artisan Chocolatier, his wife & daughter (my grand-daughter) also work part time with us. We are still hand making chocolates using many old fashioned homemade and labour-intensive techniques rather than mass production machinery, so come and visit our shop and watch us making our chocolates.
Angela & Gary
Artisan Chocolatiers