Known as a top 50 in food and wine, we had to try this place. Their handmade, small and organic ingredient list for their chocolate was very appealing, and we just had to try the milk chocolate. It is worth the price. We also had their gelato which is not for the faint hearted - strong flavors for each of them. The hazelnut was my favorite though I could not even finish the small. Nice rocking chair and seating area on the porch to people watch. We enjoyed everything but will come back most for the chocolate. read more

Potomac chocolate and Graffiti Cat Pizza is amazing!! Went here while hungry after exploring the city. Located in historic Occoquan VA, it's mainly a chocolate shop that ethically sources its cocoa from different countries around the world in order to make their in house (mostly dark) chocolate bars and bon bons. They also serve gelato, drinking chocolate (hot cocoa) and on select weekends homemade pizza with sourdough via Graffiti Cat! The shop is very small with no seating inside but there are a couple tables and chairs right outside and in the alley (in the winter we just get it to go or eat in the car). Parking is hard as it's very busy and it's on a historic street so it's all on the side of the sidewalk. The drinking chocolate is my favorite! I always have to order a traditional (think American hot cocoa but with a richer feel), and a European drinking chocolate (smaller cup with less milk but so rich like drinking straight melted dark chocolate!, so absolutely delicious!). I often get their bonbons as well which are handmade and have various flavors like toasted coconut, Ugandan Dark chocolate (named for the country of cocoa origin), raspberry and mint, along with a few others. I got the 70% dark chocolate, the mint chocolate, and the toasted coconut. I liked two of them but the mint chocolate tasted a bit too much like toothpaste to me so I didn't finish that one. Now onto the Pizza. They make their own sourdough for these personal size pizzas, and use fresh ingredients. They have a set menu except for one special pizza which changes each week and is updated on their website. I ordered the margarita pizza and added pepperoni on top. The margarita part was tasty and the sourdough really compliments the ingredients well...if you like sourdough you'll love these pizzas. I would say that the pepperoni is more porky than beefy and since I don't tend to like pork I didn't appreciate it as much as I usually do. If you like pork you will be fine with it. The pizza is NY style in that it is thin and chewy. I think it could use a bit more sauce but it's tasty nonetheless. My husband got the cheese pizza and he enjoyed it but not nearly as much as me (though he doesn't love sourdough like I do). The service is great and I love the adorable cat mascot for the pizza. They hand draw on each pizza box and each one is unique, which is cool. If you look out the window you'll see they 'graffitied' a graffiti cat on the brick on the side of the building. Bon bons: 4/5 Drinking chocolate: 5/5 Pizza: 4/5 TLDR: delicious dark chocolate for drinking and eating; ethically sourced. Pizza pop up on weekends is good and has a cute cartoon cat mascot. Parking sucks, but that's just historic districts for you. I dream of the drinking chocolate and need to get it at least once a month. I definitely recommend both Potomac Chocolate and Graffiti Cat. read more

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This is an interesting and unique spot, but the taste weren't particularly to my liking. I stopped by with my wife on a Saturday afternoon. They were not overly busy and easy to get to if you're already walking around the downtown area. There's not a lot of parking so expect to look for spots and walk a good distance. Not ideal if you're just going to this area to pick up some food, but its a very nice and unique historic town to visit and see. The variety of choclates is diverse and unique, probably not things you'll find anywhere else. However, many of the varieties are dark chocolate and taste quite bitter. The pizza is unique as well in they use sourdough bread for the crust. Its definitely different, but felt like it overpowered every other flavor on the pizza. Worth a try if you enjoy dark choclates and sourdough, otherwise you may not find much you like to eat here. read more

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If you're a chocolate lover, this place is for you! What I love about this small business is that they offer unique flavors of chocolate and it's all handmade. I purchased the "Better than Latte" white chocolate with coffee bar, which was delicious. Highly recommend if you're visiting the Occoquan area. read more

Potomac Chocolate - Entrance of Potomac Chocolate - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Occoquan, Virginia

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We stopped in on a pretty busy day - it was Riverfest and the streets were full with tons of family digging into gelato or pizza! Despite the rush, the gentleman (who may have been the owner?) who helped us select a few chocolates to try, took the time to explain the origin of the chocolates, sourcing directly from the growers and explaining the nuances of the flavors based on where the cocoa beans came from. It was fantastic chocolate! I should have taken a photo, but I immediately ate all of them -- what can I say, it was hot and I didn't want them to melt! Highly recommend stopping in here - there were several "sweet" shops along the street but this place was in a class of its own! A chocolate-lovers must visit! read more

Potomac Chocolate - Chocolate and Gelato all week + pizza on the weekends! - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Occoquan, Virginia

The smell as soon as you walk in is so good! This small batch chocolate maker was such a great find while walking through Historic Occoquan. They have chocolate bars, Gelato, sipping chocolate and truffles all made in house. The person working behind the counter was so nice and explained everything to us. Their bars are on the pricey side, but they were super good. read more

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** 8'26'2023 ** My gf and I were on the hunt for ice cream, and we found it!! I needed dairy free. I located this establishment online and couldn't wait to visit. It's very cutesy and quaint. We ordered Stracciatella (Italian Chocolate Chip) & Single Origin Chocolate. Both were delish. Awesome portion size. It was a perfect dessert on a pretty warm day. The gentleman that assisted us was very kind and knowledgeable about this delish ice cream. I highly suggest this place and recommend it to anyone visiting locally. read more

Potomac Chocolate - Stracciatella (Italian Chocolate Chip) & Single Origin Chocolate - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Occoquan, Virginia

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This award winning establishment makes handcrafted chocolates by taking raw cacao from Colombia and developing one of a kind creations. The gelato was creamy and flavorful. I really enjoyed the vanilla bean gelato. It was the perfect snack for a gorgeous day along the Occoquan River. read more

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In the heart of Historic Occoquan is an enticing store front. With restored furniture on its front porch and a sign that reads "Named one of the 50 best chocolate shops in the country by Food and Wine magazine," you can't help but to walk in. Here's my experience: 1) Chocolate: For 11 years, Potomac Chocolate has made hand-crafted chocolate just south of Occoquan in Woodbridge, Virginia. The chocolatier's goal is to make quality bean-to-bar chocolates. They sell 5+ bars for around $9 each. Expect a different kind of bar. They are thinner than expected and come in packaging that looks more like a coffee bean bag. What I appreciate about Potomac Chocolate is they have a good mix of dark and milk chocolate. I bought the "Toasted Milk" bar and it was deliciously creamy! 2) Space: For having such a beautiful front porch, it's shockingly bare inside. There's a sterile counter and a wood table with brochures on it. 3) Gelato: I didn't order any, but it looked good and my friends later told me they love their gelato! 4) Price: $9 seems steep for chocolate, but keep in mind they are hand-crafted and artisanal chocolate. You pay for quality. read more

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Everyone is familiar with the idiom "like a kid in a candy store". However, with a shop like Potomac Chocolate, conventional wisdom need not be applied since this is the kind of candy shop where money and enjoyment are wasted on that proverbial kid in the candy shop. What we have here is a craftsman by the name of Ben Rasmussen who turned a basement laboratory experiment with chocolate into a single-source bean-to-bar storefront that at first glance shouldn't have any business tucked into the quaint little town of Occoquan, but perhaps the advantage of not having lofty expectations by your clientele is that it allows you to continue being bold and defying trends. Who would try to concoct a chocolate bar with sourdough bread crumbs or tinker with the often maligned milk chocolate bar by toasting organic milk powder for a more complex finish? In addition to the award winning chocolate bars (Food & Wine ranked Potomac Chocolate amongst the 50 best chocolate makers in America in 2021), there are also options for handcrafted bonbons with rotating flavors, drinking chocolate with choice of whole or oat milk, and house made gelato. A curated catalogue for a chocolate connoisseur's compulsive cravings, be sure to check out this up and coming garage band before they take the inevitable leap into national stardom. read more

I stumbled upon Potomac Chocolate during a quick little exploration trip in Historic Occoquan and my life has not ever been the same since! Unlike the other stores in Occoquan which have a quaint, old-timey feel, Potomac Chocolate is a hip little chocolatier that looks like it would be at-home on a trendy city street. When we walked in we were immediately greeted by the jovial and passionate owner Ben who gave us a rundown of their history, products, tasting notes for each bar, and recommendations. They are a handcrafted bean-to-bar chocolatier. Everything is made in-house including the sourdough bread that goes into one of their best-selling bars "You Bread My Mind." I ended up walking away with three chocolate bars and a bag of their hot cocoa to tide me over till sunny days are here again. It was the best decision I've made all week -- a tiny square of their rich chocolate bars is enough to satiate even the biggest pregnancy sugar cravings so I'm actually looking at my whole purchase as a health investment. Thanks Ben and can't wait to come back again soon! read more

Follow us @Avetlife on Instagram! ----- What's going on my fellow Yelpee's, Googler's, and DMV'er's! So a bit about this place. First off, its history and testimony from the owner Ben was quite intriguing. The freshness, pureness and natural contents that this place offers is spot on. I now adore the cacao fruit more than ever! The creamy, fresh and soft sweetness of the cacao flavors that I tasted were delicious. Gave me an entire different perspective and actually see the value in why it is important to invest in cacao produced products. I had a combo of the toasted hazelnut and single origin chocolate, both flavors from two different countries coming together powering up a unique and fresh gelato flavor. I highly recommend this place! read more

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I discovered Potomac Chocolate shortly after moving to Utah from Northern Virginia....where I'd lived probably a half hour (if that!) from their home base. Funny how things work out that way, and man, what a missed opportunity! I have since purchased a variety of Potomac's bars from a local shop, Caputo's, as well as had orders shipped direct from PC. They make some of my very favorite craft chocolate, as the notes of the different single origin cacao beans truly shine through, with just enough sweetness to compliment, but never overwhelm. My favorites are You Bread My Mind, San Martín Peru 70%, and Upala Costa Rica 70%. As far as bon bons go....I don't think I could pick favorites! I recently placed an order for eight, and requested a mix of whatever was available. They were lovely and accommodating, sending all different flavors with no repeats. I don't even like milk chocolate, but theirs is so skillfully made (never too sweet), that I gobbled it up! I have to give a special shout out for the caramel, which is soooo dark, at the edge of burnt, meltingly gooey, and basically a paragon of that classic sweet treat. The truffles are also gorgeous, with perfectly tempered, shiny crisp shells, decorated with swirls or splatters of brilliant color. They are presented in little craft boxes, four to a pack, labeled with the flavors inside. Additional offerings include drinking chocolate and cute branded tees, and they are continually releasing new or limited addition bars and specials (sourdough here shortly!). They have a storefront in Occoquan with limited hours: previously, I think Saturdays only, but currently, with the pandemic, curbside pickup Friday and Saturday, though definitely confirm with them during this ever-changing, unprecedented time! Prices are reasonable, with the majority of items under $10. I just adore this charming little chocolate maker, and I know you will, too! read more

Potomac Chocolate - All the bon bons and amazing sourdough chocolate bar! - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Occoquan, Virginia

How cool is this little shop. Stopped by earlier today with my husband and friends and the owner of this shop shared much info on how he makes and why he creates what he does. The shop is clean, the chocolate was delicious and we hope to be have soon to support local. read more

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It's so great having a world-class chocolate maker here. The owner cares immensely about his craft and it rubs off on anyone who comes in while he's there, he is so excited to tell you about chocolate and how he makes it, right in the back of the shop. I'm embarrassed for all the times I gave inferior mass produced chocolates for gifts when this has been here the whole time. read more

Best salted caramel chocolate I've ever had. Super nice owner. Can't wait to come back and try the sipping chocolate and gelato.

Wow! The Bonbons are WORKS OF ART in themself. I've yet to try all of the flavors but they do make a wonderful gift. I can attest to the AMAZING Peppermint Bark!! My husband and I honestly say, it's the best we've had. Lovely shop that I highly recommend. Can't wait to try the gelato! read more

Had to come in after seeing the sign outside saying Potomac Chocolate had been listed by Food and Wine Magazine as top 50 best chocolate stores in the U.S., and the gelato lived up to expectations! It was so rich and delicious that even the small size felt decadent, and I appreciated that they don't use plastic utensils or packaging. The owner was friendly and gracious, too. From listening to others in line, seemed like a mix of people who come often, which is a solid recommendation to me. This would be a great place to stock up on gifts for special occasions! read more

Potomac Chocolate - Chocolate gelato and peach gelato - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Occoquan, Virginia

This place is... amazing. The rosemary caramel bon bon's are sooo good and rich. The chocolate bars I've tried are super flavorful too.

First of all, this place is the most delicious smelling place on earth! We had stopped in over Christmas, and I hinted all over the place that I would love something from here as a gift. My husband stopped in for Valentine's Day, and he WON VALENTINE'S DAY. I wish I remembered exactly what all of these were, but the very best thing I've ever tasted was the salted caramel chocolate bon bon. read more

Potomac Chocolate - Chocolatiers & Shops Near Me - Occoquan, Virginia

We spoke to the owner and he told us all about how he personally makes all the chocolate, drinks, and gelato from scratch! The Gelato was really good. If you like dark chocolate then you will probably love his chocolate bars! I personally like sweeter chocolate and thought it was too bitter. The dark chocolate bar was I believe 70% and the milk was 65% so I figured the milk probably wouldn't be much sweeter so I had the dark chocolate. read more

My husband and I were so impressed with the owner Ben's professionalism. Finding quality dairy free (DF)and/or vegan(v) is a challenge. Occoquan is esp limited in that regard. We were pleasantly surprised by their selection - his chocolate bars are superb, the gelato is light and tasty and his bonbons are other worldly. The price may seem steep but I respect the integrity of his work and I don't mind spending to support local business and especially one of his quality. read more

I somehow found myself at this shop a few weeks ago and by chance decided to try the gelato. I'm not a huge fan of vanilla or anything, but I ordered it because I could see it was made with real vanilla beans and - OH MY GOD - it was not only the best vanilla ice cream I've ever tasted, it was the BEST ice cream I've ever tasted, period. It completely blew my mind and I have not been able to stop thinking about it since. Today I go back and, wouldn't you know it, the owner stopped making the vanilla because nobody was buying it! WHAT IN THE WORLD!?!! You other customers are insane. Please go there now and ask the owner to make the vanilla again because it will absolutely blow your mind too. Seriously. read more

Delicious and appreciated interacting with Ben the owner. Will probably order someto be shipped to us at home after visiting

We discovered Potomac Chocolate at Dent Place Market in DC and loved it. So many interesting and fun flavors and chocolate varieties. Visited Ben (chocolate maker and owner of Potomac Chocolate) at his location in Occoquan shortly thereafter and saw the full line of what he produces. He was so very pleasant and such a craftsman! We purchased a variety of bars and the few remaining bonbons he had left. If you're into locally produced, small batch chocolate that is flavorful, inventive, and outright delicious, you should totally visit the store in Occoquan or check out a local retailer. Ben indicated that the Chocolate House in DC (1904 18th St NW) carries his products and a variety of others! read more

This place has the MOST amazing hot chocolate. It's sooooo chocolatey without being too sweet!!! The chocolates are works of art to look at and so delicious!! read more

We frequent the area often and love to support local businesses. Not impressed with the service we received. Will not be back. Young lady that works there is not friendly. We stopped in for an afternoon treat on a hot summer day with young kiddos. My 3 year old changed her mind a few times about the flavor (before it was scooped) after requesting to change the flavor for the second time the young lady said 'don't worry I'll get her gelato now so she can't change her mind again'. And was dead serious. After my other son tried his ice cream he didn't like the dark chocolate in the chocolate chip ice cream. The chocolate is much more bitter than normal. We asked the young lady if he could switch it out for vanilla and at first no, then they allowed him to have vanilla. We were grateful. It was about 100 degrees out and we ate on the front porch outside. My kids were sweating and there's little shade in the town. After spending $45 on 6 small gelatos, I went inside to ask for just 1 small cup of tap water. The young lady seemed a bit annoyed and grabbed a cup and said ok, then walked by the bottled water, looked right at me, and said 'or you buy bottled water'. I kindly asked for the tap water if that's okay, then proceeded to ask if there's a trash can outside on the porch for our gelato trash as there isn't one inside the shop. The young lady just pointed to one behind the counter so I guess you have to walk back in the shop and hand them your trash. That's awkward because the young lady acted annoyed anytime we spoke to her, even when we ordered. If we left it outside it would just blow away. When we sat at the table someone else's trash was left there and blowing around. Poor customer service and very expensive prices. Basic things like tap water and a trash can difficult to access. read more

A highly trained and skilled chocolatier who provides personal service (when needed) and excellent chocolate! A can't miss if headed South of DC on I95 in the historic town of Occoquan. read more

He's amazingly nice. And the chocolate was great. Get the spicy one and the praline one. You won't regret it.