Chocoholics Dream Tour Of The Hudson Valley: What's Near Pleasantville?

We can't think of a more delicious way to spend a day than sampling the best chocolates in the Hudson Valley. Here are some of our favorites. If we missed your favorite chocolate source, be sure to let us know in the comments.

Westchester

Imagine Candy: Located in Scarsdale Village, the candy store presents a variety of fine chocolate and sweets for every palate, including sugar-free, vegan, gluten free, nut free, kosher, dairy free, raw, nostalgia and retro. They are best known for their Belgian chocolates and truffles and a Dark Chocolate Almond Bark described as “so good, it can cause dependency.” The store is located at 22 Harwood Court.

Chocolations: Chocolations is an artisanal chocolate factory located in Mamaroneck. Their signature gourmet truffles and quality bark chocolate are made from fresh and wholesome ingredients, using natural premium chocolate. Chocolations creates at least 30 varieties of bark chocolate. They also have a variety of molds, so they can craft creative festive molded chocolate creations. The store is Zagat rated and has won numerous awards. They are located at 606 East Boston Road.

The Chocolate Chalet at 74 North State Road in Briarcliff Manor has been making homemade chocolates for over 35 years. They offer dipped fruits, nuts, and pretzels, as well as over 1,000 different molded products in various shapes, sizes and characters, available in white, milk and dark chocolates. The store is the seven-time winner of the best Chocolate Shops and Chocolates category in Westchester Magazine and was voted BestChocolates in Hudson Valley Magazine. For more information, click here.

Blue Tulip Chocolates creates fine luxury chocolates that are as beautiful as they are delicious. Their mission is to delight your senses through chocolate. The store is located at 137 Purchase Street in Rye. Chocolates are made with fresh cream, French butter, fresh vanilla bean and exquisite
chocolates. The store adds new flavors every few weeks.

Mid-Hudson Valley

Krause’s Chocolates in Saugerties, Rhinebeck and New Paltz uses traditional hand-dipping techniques to create unique confections such as decadent truffles, luxurious caramels, melt-in-your-mouth peanut brittle, chocolate creams, chocolate-dipped fruit, chocolate peanut butter cups, and chocolate nut clusters. The stores are located at 2 Church Street in Rhinebeck, 41 South Partition Street in Saugerties and 6423 Montgomery Street in Rhinebeck. For more information, click here.

Lagusta’s Luscious in New Paltz describes their chocolates as “heartbreakingly” delicious and painstakingly made by hand with artisanal ingredients. The locavore chocolatiers make organic, fair-trade, and vegan chocolates, as well as tasty macaroons, and chocolate toffee ice cream. Shipping is available. They are located at 25 N. Front St. in New Paltz. For more information, click here.

Oliver Kita Chocolates makes delectable creations with the perfumes and flavors of flowers, herbs, citrus, exotic fruits, berries, and nuts. Located at 18 W Market St. in Rhinebeck, the store now offers an online chocolate shop.

You can stop by The Chocolate Studio in Beacon to sample their irresistible flavors such as Way Out Walnut , Almond Avalanche, Beyond Butterscotch, Peanut Butter Pretzel, More Than S'MORES, Naked in the Dark and the popular PEACE O' Pecan or take a class there in how to make chocolate. The store is located at 494 Main St, Beacon, NY 12508.

Samuel’s Sweet Shop is as well known for their homemade chocolate as it is for their owners, celebs Paul Rudd and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Since 1994 Samuel's has sweetened Rhinebeck with classic confections, decadent chocolates, delicious baked goods, savory sandwiches Visit the store at 42 East Market Street.

Kingston Candy Bar offers homemade doughnuts, pies, Jane’s Ice Cream and some of the most intense homemade chocolate. Crafted by trained CIA chef Diane Reeder, a small sample of the flavorful chocolate is satisfying enough to be an entire dessert. The store is located at 319 Wall St. Kingston.

Rockland

According to the website for Matisse Chocolate, the company gets “fresh with chocolate in unconventional ways.” The store uses only the freshest ingredients and garden-fresh fruit ranging from tree-ripe to tropical, to create uninhibited chocolate sensations– from the most basic to the most adventurous. The store offers hand dipped, made-to-order chocolate platters, custom chocolate gift baskets, bark and customized molds, specialty items and hand-dipped chocolate-covered fruit.

Matisse Chocolatier is located at 32 Orangetown Shopping Center, Orangeburg. For more information, visit getfreshchocolate.com.

Was your favorite chocolatier listed here? Let us know.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia