Have you tried Amano Chocolate? If not, you are missing out. Amano makes the finest chocolate. They have received world wide recognition and guess what-their factory is in Orem, Utah, only 40 minutes from my house. So guess who got a special tour-ME! I went with my blogging bud, Becky, from Project Domestication. We had a fun filled day!
Amano chose to make their chocolate in Utah because of the high altitude and dry weather. Amano is located at 4,441 feet (1,454 meters) above sea level — higher than many of the Swiss chocolate makers, this makes Amano one of the highest-altitude chocolate manufacturers in the world! Very cool!
I was expecting a “Willy Wonka” experience, but boy was I wrong. There were no Oompa Loompas-just four employees. Four employees make the world’s best chocolate-amazing! The factory is very small, I actually drove past it-I bet most people don’t even know the world’s finest chocolate is being made in such a little factory.
Amano makes their chocolate slowly and in very small batches so they can concentrate on developing the finest flavors. They ship in cocoa beans from all over the world. They use “old school” equipment to produce the best quality. They do not use any flavorings, nuts, fruits, etc., only a little vanilla. Their chocolate is good on it’s own.
At the end of the tour we were able to sample some Amano chocolate. Amano is always coming up with new bars-based on where the cocoa beans come from. Every bar is different because the beans are always different. Devon, our wonderful tour guide, described their chocolate like this: It’s like eating an apple. Every time is different. Yes, it tastes like an apple, but every time there is a little something different-flavor, texture, sweetness, etc. I love that each bar is unique. Visit their website for a chocolate tasting guide.
My favorite bar is the Jembrana, 70% Dark Chocolate Bar-the first single origin chocolate made with cocoa from Bali, Indonesia. Beautiful rich chocolate flavor with gentle flavor notes of honey and fig.
The Madagascar, 70% Dark Chocolate Bar was also really good-made from cocoa beans from the Sambirano Valley, Madagascar. Light chocolate flavor with intense flavor notes of citrus and raspberry.
Photo from Amano Chocolate
Click here to view Amano’s entire line of chocolates.
I had a great time touring the factory, learning about the history of their chocolate and cocoa beans, seeing the vintage machines, and of course tasting the chocolate. I love that they really care about the quality of the chocolate and treat each batch and bean with tender care.
Craving chocolate now? Give Amano a try!
*Note-I did not receive any freebies or compensation for this post/tour.*
{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
YUM! I’ve never ever heard of this company. I like my chocolate without all the crazy add ins, so they sound like the company for me
Very cool that you got to go on a tour, etc. Have a good weekend 
I’m amazed that you only saw 4 workers there! I love a company committed to quality over quantity – that’s very rare these days. I also like how their chocolate is very pure. What a neat tour!
I have heard of Amano and love their different chocolates.
I had the prvilidge of tasting their chocolate and I have to say it is some of the best. I didnt realize they were in Utah. Lucky you!
I’ve never heard of this brand but I love good chcololate
So that place is basically my mecca.
It’s so cool you got to tour the factory, absolute bliss! Thanks for making us aware of this company, will definitely be checking them out
Oh, I’m so jealous. I want a chocolate factory tour
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That is so interesting! I’d love to visit one…
cheers,
Rosa
Pretty cool!
Would love to visit one day…maybe if I make a ski trip or something? This reminds me of the Scharffenberger factory when I used to go to school at UC Berkeley. It was a small factory but still pretty cool! 
Love your blog!
I’ve never heard of them either! Can you stop by to purchase the chocolate, or do you have to have it shipped? thanks!
Ben would LOVE that! He loves going on tours.
Maria, this was a really fun experience and I’m glad I got to share it with you! I’m with you…it was totally different inside than I thought it would be.
I loved your recap! Oh and I made some chocolate using their 70% madagascar. Posted it today.
Hope to see you soon! Thanks again!
and by making chocolate…i mean chocolate ice cream. I used the custard-based/french-style recipe from The Perfect Scoop!
I love Amano and am thrilled they are local! Sounds like fun!
Loved the virtual tour. I’ve been meaning to get down there myself, so this was perfect! I love their chocolate and am so happy that I have a local market that sells their bars. Thanks for this post!
The tour sounds fun, but the sampling sounds even better!
How fun to go on the tour! I’m so surprised they only have four employees.
I’m jealous of your chocolate tour! This looks like so much fun. I’d love to try this chocolate someday.
Hmm giveaway??
I wish I could go on a chocolate tour!
Looks like a fun tour!
Thanks for including us on your tour of Amano. Sounds like such a great experience! Nothing like fine, artisan chocolate. I am not a wine drinker, but I love to sample fine chocolate in the way that people go wine tasting. Cheese too!
Just left a comment on the post you wrote re: portion control over at Carrots N’ Cake. Very well stated!
Fun! I’m a big Amano fan (I even like their milks, and I usually hate milk chocolate) and am glad their company’s doing so well. Glad you got to see the factory!
I have never heard of this brand either, but what an amazing experience. I would love to tour a chocolate factory.
I’ve never heard of this brand, will have a look out for it!
This is fantastic, love all the detail!
Never heard of this chocolate but would love to try it.
No Willy Wonka experience? Bummer! I love those little Oompa Loompas! I don’t believe I’ve ever heard of this type of chocolate but I’ll be on the lookout for it.
They are super close to my house, yet I’ve never been there…