As one of only a few small-batch, bean-to-bar chocolate shops in the nation, Ethereal Confections takes the term chocoholic to a whole new—and even sweeter—level.
The rich, sweet aroma of chocolate arouses parts of the brain in unique ways. While simply eating chocolate is enough to put most of us in a good frame of mind, the latest research suggests that the smell of a sweet confection can actually improve our mood. Of course, that's not news to the owners of Ethereal Confections, Mary Ervin and Sara Miller. As true chocolatiers, they’ve created a bean-to-bar chocolate shop that puts care into every step of the chocolate-making process, from nougat to neuron.
Ethereal Confections sits in the picturesque town of Woodstock, nestled near the quaint downtown square where the movie Groundhog Day was filmed. In the quaint shop, Mary and Sara do everything themselves, winnowing the beans and pouring the molds all by hand.
In addition to expertly crafted chocolate, the shop also serves coffee, pastries and desserts. If you can’t make it to Woodstock, you can find Ethereal Confections creations at about a dozen retail locations all over Chicagoland.
The word ethereal is defined as “extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world.” For the lucky residents of Woodstock and nearby areas who can frequent Ethereal Confections every day, this chocolate shop certainly adds a bit of perfection to their world.
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