Criollos Chocolate maker Artisan chocolatier in the heart of the historic center of La Rochelle

Criollos is a high-end artisanal chocolate shop located in the heart of the historic center of La Rochelle, with its production workshop in Aytré.

Passionate about chocolate and a lover of fine products, Thomas Pontacq completed his apprenticeship with two of France's best workers. He took over Criollos at the end of 2019 after working in prestigious establishments in France and Switzerland.

Two years later, he made his debut in the TOP 10 of new French talents by winning the " Award de la Maîtrise " in the highly sought-after Guide des Croqueurs de Chocolats. This club publishes a gastronomic guide each year listing the best chocolatiers in France. This was followed by several " Tablettes d'OR " awards and a new " Award" in 2023. He thus confirmed his place in the selection of the best French chocolatiers.

Always seeking a delicate balance of flavors, Thomas Pontacq uses refined ingredients in his preparations, sourced from committed producers renowned for the quality of their products. His chocolates and delicacies are guaranteed to be free of preservatives and artificial flavors, and are made exclusively with natural, plant-based colorings.

Criollos is one of the 5% of French chocolate makers to make its chocolate bars directly from cocoa beans. Thomas Pontacq is a committed member of the " Bean-To-Bar " movement, which guarantees true traceability and collaboration with cocoa producers. You will find 12 different origins: 1 country per continent, 2 plantations per country, 1 unique percentage 72% for a taste experience that above all honors very different terroirs. Wine tasting enthusiasts can thus reproduce the experience with chocolate and enjoy the very rich aromatic palette of chocolate.

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For your health, avoid eating too fatty, too sweet, too salty