Some travelers like to bring back souvenirs. Others bring back a passion for artisanal chocolates.
When Joshua Becker traveled to the Netherlands, he brought back more than just pictures and stories. After witnessing the delicate craftsmanship of the country’s chocolatiers—and tasting the rich flavors of Dutch chocolate—Becker found himself in love with the art of chocolate making. Back stateside, he enrolled at St. Louis’ Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, earning a certificate in Pâtisserie and Baking in 2012. A year later, he opened Cocoa Blue Chocolates—a small-town confectionary inspired by those that so enamored him overseas.
Located in Rochester, Illinois—mere miles from Springfield—Cocoa Blue claims a space in the old Town Hall building, lending an old-fashioned intimacy to the shop. During a visit, you can see Becker and his staff produce high-end chocolates from scratch, getting a behind-the-scenes look at the artisanal process of making chocolates, caramels, and truffles.
For many of his creations, Becker imports ingredients straight from the Netherlands, in order to imbue each truffle with the authentic taste of rich Dutch chocolate. But even if the cocoa comes from overseas, each is made right here at home. Whether you’re on your way to see the Illinois capital or en route to one of the historic towns nearby, be sure to visit Cocoa Blue Chocolates for a sweet taste that's truly Illinois Made.
Discover more Illinois artisans at Illinois Made.
You might also like...
Northern Illinois' Family Owned Whiskey Distillery
Sundae Fun Day
Custom Bats in Homewood
Related Reads
Tighthead Brewing Company
For Bruce Dir, focusing on his passion for craft brewing came easily, given that he was no stranger to tending to flavors grown in his own backyard, balancing taste profiles, and putting personality into his craft.
Ottawa's Tangled Roots Brewery
In Ottawa, IL, Tangled Roots makes handcrafted beer from home-grown hops and barley.
KOVAL Distillery
With numerous international awards, KOVAL leads a new generation of small-batch distillers producing America’s finest organic grain-to-bottle spirits.
Old Bakery Beer
Every year, wintering bald eagles migrate to Alton, a riverside city nestled along the meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway. With the opening of the region's only 100% organic craft brewery featuring 15 original IPAs, beer connoisseurs are joining the flock.
Firefly Grill & Restaurant
The Firefly Grill is like that much-loved relative who is always in charge of throwing the family dinners for extended family - except the food tastes better.
Share your Moments
#EnjoyIllinois