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 manufacturing workshop in Aytré.

Passionate about chocolate and a lover of fine products, Thomas Pontacq apprenticed with two Meilleur Ouvrier de France (Best Craftsmen of France). He took over Criollos at the end of 2019 after working in prestigious establishments in France and Switzerland.

Two years later, he entered the Top 10 of new French talents by winning the " Mastery Award " in the highly regarded Guide des Croqueurs de Chocolats (Chocolate Lovers' Guide). This club publishes an annual gastronomic guide listing the best chocolatiers in France. Several " Golden Tablets " followed, and another " Award" in 2023 , thus confirming his place among the best French chocolatiers.

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

Criollos is among the 5% of French chocolatiers that make their chocolate bars directly from cocoa beans. Thomas Pontacq is a committed member of the " Bean-To-Bar " movement, which guarantees genuine traceability and collaboration with cocoa producers. You'll find 12 different origins: one country per continent, two plantations per country, and a single percentage of 72% cocoa, for a tasting experience that truly showcases the diversity of terroirs. Wine enthusiasts can thus replicate the experience with chocolate and enjoy its rich aromatic profile.

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Annual closure:

• 2 weeks in January
• 3 weeks in August (from 9 to 31/08/2026)

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