Chocolaterie de la Nouvelle France

Not sure what the hype with this place is. Tried many of their chocolates and they are not good. Maybe I don’t know good chocolate but everything was so bitter. The only thing that I enjoyed was the caramels. I definitely will not be back

Excellent shop, with both the thick, European drinking chocolate and the more usual hot chocolate. The owner knows her chocolates well, and her offerings remind me of the kind I enjoyed in France. There is not same kind of creativity here as in Koko Monk in Kitsilano, but there is a similar attention to detail and truly good quality product. Very timeless, classic flavours, paired well with excellent small truffles and other treats.
This shop is one of the best places in the annual Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival (mid-​January to Valentine’s Day).
The outside wall mural is notably adorable, and the shop is cute inside too!

Best place ever! Amazing owner, ice creams to die for and perfect chocolate. I forgot, excellent coffee. What else can you ask for?
I had the lemon and chocolate gelato with the cocoa nibs on top. A pure delice. I really can’t wait to go back. And the terrace on the street is pure genius. I cannot believe that there are not more of these in Vancouver! They are so enjoyable and make the neighborhood a neighborhood. I lift my hat to Anne Geneviève as she definitely has a flagship store which defines what Main Street should be about.

The best chocolate ice cream you will ever taste, combined with raspberry gelato.
Get their waffle with chocolate gelato and salted caramel; its outta this world.
Thirsty? Get the Iced Chocolate.
TIP: Do not come here for their products because they are expensive.

Tiny café serving fancy chocolates, meringues, waffles and a couple different gelatos and sorbets. I tried the chocolate sorbet and the raspberry sorbet, both were amazing. Seriously. Not a cheap place, but you can really taste the quality. Great customer service too! I’ll definitely be back.

Quality costs money. If you know quality chocolate, this place is for you. Owner is very helpful and knowledgeable about chocolate. This is her passion and it shows. I’ll be going back again soon.

Hot Chocolate Festival 2015 — Lavande Classique — $ 5
Nothing too special here, just a nicely done hot chocolate with lavender flavour. If you figure the comes-​with-​drink meringue is maybe $ 2, then this is a $ 3 hot chocolate, which is decently priced, compared to some Hot Chocolate places that maybe try too hard to be creative or use so many ingredients they have to jack the price up to $ 8.
Comes with a meringue of choice. I chose jasmine; other two choices at the time were rose and chocolate. Strong jasmine flavour. If you like marshmallow in your hot chocolate, drop it in! It gets soft and chewy and marshmallowy real fast.

This is cute little chocolate shop owned by a friendly French lady who is all smiles every time I’ve visited. I’m in love with the earl grey truffles and vanilla bean caramels. The truffles have a soft, smooth texture that melts in your mouth and probably the best you can get in Vancouver. The caramels are soft and chewable with just enough flavour and sweetness. As others said, their items are on the pricey side but it is a nice treat on occasion.

So I bought a GROUPON for a chocolate tasting here. Yes a 3 course meal of chocolate dishes, but can they pull it off? Yes, yes they absolutely can.
First when we stepped into the shop we were warmly welcomed and set up at a small but functional wooden table. Waiting was table glasses of lemon water and a central plate. This plate contained 2 Earl grey truffles, 2 vanilla caramels and a cup of unsweetened thickly whipped cream garnished with fresh raspberries. So good that we will be taking some Earl Grey truffles home with us to give to the epicurean in-​laws. First course: chocolate pies. My husband enjoyed his banoffee pie, hazelnut chocolate with graham pie crust crumble, toffee, banana and whipped cream, I enjoyed a s’mores pie with the hazelnut chocolate, Graham pie crumb crust and liquid marshmallow toasted with a torch. Very flavorful and rich, which will be a theme revisited this evening. Both of us were very happy with our choices. Second coarse: chocolate mousse. The most thick, dense mousse I’ve ever known. My husband enjoyed milk chocolate with fleur de sel, I had 75% cocoa dark chocolate with cocoa nibs. So many antioxidants! My hormones are dancing as fast as my taste buds at this point. On to the final chocolate wave, vanilla bean gelato with chocolate brownie covered in espresso or flamed toffee, we ordered 1 of each, as always when presented with such choices. This was also very decedent.
I tried to take a photo of the truffles and squares but was asked not to. Apparently there is a mimic store they are having problems with.
All in all a very enjoyable and extravagantly delicious evening. A great place to buy a housewarming gift or bring a date after dinner to be pampered.

The love affair is still going strong.
It’s hard to believe this little haunt was the makings of my first ever Unilocal review, but then again, a year and a half later it remains one of my favourite places in the hood. My waistline kept me from keeping up my daily mocha routine, but I still pop in here at least twice a week for a caramel and an espresso — a little more forgiving and equally delicious.
What i’ve learned in a year and a half:
1. Fleur de Sel Caramels are universally loved and one of the best impromptu presents you can get. Drop $ 6 for a little box and surprise someone — there’s nothing better than a «Happy Wednesday» present for no reason.
2. Iced chocolate drinks are a thing… and they are delicious.
3. They now sell waffles! I haven’t had one but… it’s waffles… that has to be a good thing.
4. They raised money via kickstarter to build a nifty little neighbourhood parklet! Bonus good neighbour points.
But perhaps the MOST important learning from my last year? You ready? Pay close attention. You may want to take notes, this s&%t is important:
Vanilla Bean Gelato + Espresso Shot + Coconut, Almond & Fleur de Sel Chocolate Square.
Best $ 5.25 you can spend in the city.
Seriously.

I went there on the day the Vancouver Hot Chocolate festival started, turned out to be such a treat! We met Geneviève, who is charming with the lilting French, and she introduced us to her Iced Chocolate drinks. The festival special was an Iced Chocolate drink with a fresh made waffle. Between the two of us, we tried the Cardamom and Rose Iced Chocolate drink, and waffles with her in-​house made hazelnut & milk chocolate spread and the salted caramel. It was deliciously decadent without being too sweet. I’ve been recommending others to meet Geneviève and try out her chocolate goods. You won’t regret it.

A little cute chocolate shop, with French music playing in the background and staff dressed up in retro clothes. Very hippie, very Vancouver.
There is not a lot of seating but finding a seat was not a problem that day. The staff was helpful, helped me decide, and even gave me complimentary chocolate. OK, that may be because I had my Unilocal on: Unilocal glove and ankle bands.
Handmade, no preservatives, no additives. I tried the drinking chocolate: really good but a bit warmer would have been better. The tasting looked like a good option for 16, 2 chocolate truffles caramels a hot chocolate and a drinking chocolate. They also have gelato, but I’ve not tried that.
Dairy free or vegan (not sugar free) option available and you can have almond milk for an extra dollar.
There was sign on the door that says «staff allergy — no perfume or essential body oils please», so please be considerate.

Definitely agree with other Unilocalers that this place is seriously overpriced and not that special. And agree that the display does not inspire. On the few occasions I have been in there is very little to choose from.
I too had a groupon and don’t even consider I received value for the $ 20. When I have purchased without a groupon I have just taken 1 or 2 pieces for a quick treat and did not really notice the price. But seeing what $ 40 looked like in one purchase was a real eye-​opener.
And I am not a fan of the tile style of chocolate. And agree with other reviews which say it shows little imagination. And not much for presentation.
The store is successful though, so there is a market for their product despite the price. And I am not some plebe who doesn’t appreciate the fact that it is small batch hand made, therefore will cost more. I just don’t find it that amazing to pay such a price.

I debated whether it was fair for me to write a review or not considering that I haven’t actually eaten any of their chocolate. I eventually decided that it was, as long as I made it clear that I am not reviewing the quality of the product.
I bought a $ 20 for $ 40 Groupon and gave it to my mom to go pick up some goodies since I can never make it there by the 6pm closing. We had tried to go on a Monday (when I don’t work), but they were temporarily closed on Mondays and Tuesdays to deal with a staff shortage. Anyway, Mom went there later in the week around 3pm and their selection was pretty much wiped out. The reason that I can’t review the quality of the chocolate is because I wasn’t interested in anything she bought. There just wasn’t much there to choose from, so she bought the things that were most appealing (or maybe least unappealing?).
For $ 40, she ended up with a shockingly small baggy of chocolates. I know these are good quality chocolates, presumably made by an independent store, but all I can say is that if I had actually paid $ 40, and not the $ 20 with the Groupon, I would have been peeved. As it is, even $ 20 seems a bit much…

I agree with some of the other Unilocalers who didn’t fall in love with this place. It is tres, tres overpriced!
I also had a groupon which was $ 20 for $ 40 worth of merchandise. I was only able to buy 3 things for $ 38, and like other reviewers have said, it was nothing special.
There was also little-​to-​no product in the store when I was there on a weekday afternoon, which was very disappointing. Why have so much display space with so little product? It just looks sad and like no one cares to restock it.
Here’s what I purchased for $ 40:
a small tin of 64% dark chocolate hot cocoa, a tiny box of caramels, and a two-​bite sized chocolate lavender bar, which is supposedly one of the 101 best tastes of the city by Vancouver magazine. It was chalky and tasted like soap.
I gave both the hot cocoa and the caramels away as a gift so I can’t comment on the taste of either of them.
I’ve read a lot of reviews about how great the drinks are, so I will give them another chance, and hopefully be able to upgrade the star rating.
Until then, Chocolaterie de la nouvelle France, please stock your displays. Show some pride in your product!

Does about $ 48 a pound for 72% dark chocolate bars sound expensive?
I did a taste test with the Trader Joe’s 72% dark Belgian chocolate pounder for $ 5 a pound. I liked them both equally. There was not much of a taste difference.
The service was very friendly… the dark chocolate was very good… the added flavorings interesting… the eco/​chocoholic appeal good marketing. But when you come right down to it… the product is severely overpriced!
I eat a little dark chocolate almost every day… at their prices I would start to think I was a dark chocolate junkie… or Marie Antoinette.

What a cute little hideaway! Walking up and down Main, you’re likely to miss this spot if you don’t turn your eyes just at the right time as you’re crossing the street. It’s a tiny little nook that seems like it doesn’t belong on this continent — it’s more what you’d expect to find in a small french village.
The owner was a very friendly French lady who served us two shots of the hot chocolate (both single origin bean mixes, one 68% dark and the other 72% dark — and both amazingly delicious), and we had a few squares to try. All of them were lovely and we were sad that we didn’t have a need to buy more, since with such a small place and no hustle and bustle from Main, we wanted to contribute to keeping her adorable little shop in business.

I was on my way to Red Cat records and to stop at a coffee shop to work on my zine, however, was distracted by this yellow building. I’ve walked by this yellow building before, however, thought nothing of it before. For some reason, my curiosity lead me to the canary yellow doors. So much for that record I was going to buy, instead I traded in my bling for sweet goods that may cause my skin to break out, however, oh so worth it.
As a chocolate shop they need to stand out a bit more for passers by on Main so that they have a chance to detour of the street and check out this hidden gem that deserves to be in the limelight.
The inside décor resembled some of the chocolates shops that I visited in France which was a nice touch.
Chocolate selection is not extensive and pretty basic with no imagination to the designs, however, they’re in house made which is always a plus for me.
The lady at the til was so sweet and she had the most enchanting French accent. I wanted to hear her talk for hours.
It’s a café style with small limited seating, perfect for a quick notebook writing session. The shop is pretty crowded, therefore, don’t expect to have any personal space whether you’re waiting in line or looking for a place to sit and chill with a friend.
I noticed that they were participating in the hot chocolate festival, therefore, bought a lavender hot chocolate. It was a good blend of milk chocolate with nice floral lavender notes that weren’t too strong nor subtle, it was perfect! I’ve had lavender hot chocolate at the PNE years ago that came in a mix at the petting zoo, however, this was much better. I was so excited about the hot chocolate that I ran to the record store my best friend was working at and gave him the rest.

Nouvelle France is a small (seating capacity is about 6−8ish) and cozy chocolate boutique shop off Main St which I visit whenever I need a quick chocolate fix in the city (too lazy to drive all the way to West Broadway for some Thomas Haas).
Chocolate selections here are not extensive but when you come here rest assured that each and every one is handmade with utmost care by Ann (the ever-​so-​passionate owner) and her staff. I love how I can chat up with her (if she’s not too swamped) and pick her brains on what flavor of hot chocolate she «feels» like making that day. Sometimes she would whip up hot chocolates that are not on the menu.
Last summer I brought a friend from Toronto to this hidden gem. My friend has had some pretty darn good chocolates back east (ex. Soma) so as a foodie he is extremely picky. He and I had a «chocolate sampler for two» and he had to concur the chocolates at Nouvelle are truly amazing! We had two chocolate squares (lavender and chili), two truffles (orange blossom and earl grey), two caramels (vanilla and sea salt), a chocolate shot, and a hot chocolate.
With everything I’ve tried so far my top 4 picks are 1) orange blossom truffle, 2) rose hot chocolate, 3) orange blossom hot chocolate, and 4) vanilla caramel.
Whenever I think of orange blossom and chocolate, the first metaphor that comes to mind is strawberries and condensed milk. It’s just a match made in heaven. Try it and let me know how YOU like it.
The rose hot chocolate I must say is a pretty girly drink but hey… even my man is willing to hang up his ego coat and sip it alongside with me. This drink is elegant. A cup of this magical potion later, you would be back for more.
I am not a big fan of caramel but I’d eat the ones made by Nouvelle France (sorry Beta5 but your caramel just doesn’t cut it). The texture is soft yet it has a chewy bite. The caramel is smooth and aromatic. It’s pretty hard not wanting a second piece and more.
Chocoholics, this place is not to be missed if you have not yet tried.

This is French, remember that, as in chocolate! How can you compare the other shops outside to this one, as one of the ladies there put it after I asked the question in regards to their fine craftsmanship in designing the elegant delights! A little hidden off the strip of Main Street, tucked inside 21^st Avenue, this little gem of a store has some excellent chocolate. «You cannot compare belgium or swiss, they are different compared to us», as what was said, and it is so true!
When you first see this place, you peer through the old windows, and see the long gate that guards the door to this house of delight. Found on one of my chocolate expeditions, I seem to keep returning here to try new things, and repeat on pieces that continue to tickle the taste buds, and satisfy the craving! One thing that always seems to go so well is the caramel piece they create here, if you have not tried, do yourself a favor, and sit down to enjoy every last chew! The small truffles in the glass jars are a form of art that just sits there. They have little boxes if you plan to give their chocolates out as gifts, a great presentation with a little wax looking crest of the place.
The inside of this shop has an old classy look to it. Simple, as in, the walls are white, and the furniture is in an old wood finish. There is not much inside, except some glass jars along the end of the shop, and the kitchen (or art room) where all the creations are made. Above the till, and peering into the kitchen, you see a chalkboard of what they also serve.
Another reason to venture into this place, are you thirsty? Their hot chocolate is great, try the mixtures with the certain teas that they serve. Me and my partner have had the sweet rose flavoured hot chocolate, and many of their truffles, whenever we need a taste of chocolate, French style!