Charlinda Belgian Chocolates

This chocolate specialty shop is located in the middle of no where but it has survived for more than 25 years according to the owner. Very impressive. When you step into this little shop it feels like you have stepped into the past. Thats how it felt anyway. A past where they take debit too. Its a cool place with so many chocolate stuff to look at.
The owner gave us some dark chocolate to sample. We picked out a few things and saw they had a little room with two tables where you can get coffee. There was also ice cream being offered so we ended up getting a cappuccino $ 3.50 and an espresso flavoured ice cream $ 3.
The cappuccino was okay and then tasted better when we added brown sugar cubes. The ice cream was even better. There were chocolate shavings mixed into the ice cream which I really liked. After consuming are caffine themed snacks we cashed out. We picked out espresso bean covered chocolate $ 4 and a chocolate that was shapped into a turtle with a few baby turtles on its back $ 14. I see how this business has been around for so long now. There was no label for the chocolate turtle but man $ 14 for a chocolate shapped turtle that was probably the size of the palm of my hand… I felt violated after paying $ 14 for that but everyones gotta make a living.
The espresso covered chocolate was a write-​off meaning I wish I did not buy it because it tasted really weird. It was like I was eating left over coffee bean grinds from a coffee machine. I’m not sure why we picked out so many coffee related items here but it just sorta happened without us even knowing it.
The chocolate turtle tasted great though. There was a mixture of white, dark and milk chocolate turtles.
I really do recommend visiting this place. Its different from the norm and the drive up here is also very easy with beautiful scenery all around.

I have driven by this place a few times and it looks quite quaint and welcoming. On-​line the impression is that the product is high-​end with lactose-​free options and European ingredients. The first challenge was that they don’t have their business hours listed on their website, you have to phone to find out what time they are open. I ended up there today finally and I wasn’t blown away. There are 3 cute little tables out front but the view of the lake is mostly obscured by the trees. I was looking forward to sitting up on the rooftop area for a better view but that area is part of the private house. The owner offered us dark chocolate, saying it was lactose-​free; the DEFINITION of dark chocolate is chocolate without milk solids added so it’s like advertising apples as being gluten-​free. They DID have lactose-​free milk for the cappuccino though. I was pretty disappointed to find out that the ice cream served is Chapmans; while a Canadian brand (yay!) it is full of artificial flavour, colour, mono and diglycerides etc. so I opted for the lava cake. It was warmed up for us but parts of it were very hard, I don’t know if the cake was stale or it got heated up too much but we didn’t finish it. My mom said that the cappuccino was ok and they had turbinado sugar instead of white sugar so that was good. The owner was clearly tired and barely smiled the whole time we were there, I know people have off days, so I don’t hold it against her but would I go back again? I’m not sure.

They have sugar free chocolates and ice cream (occasionally) for my diabetic grandpa. How wonderful.

The place is small and only opens till 6. We stopped by three times. My friend said it was open till 8.00 pm. the background is beautiful with Musselman lake across from the shop. It is a nice place to stop by as the sun is going down

Ok. I drive by this place quite often…
Fresh chocolate… check… That is probably why I keep driving by this place. However, I finally stopped in with a friend/​my boss (was her idea. not mine. OK maybe my idea).
Yes they offer all kinds of fresh chocolate in all kinds of forms and shapes and flavours. There is a cute little patio set out over looking Musselmans lake to view while slurping up your ice cream. Its soooooo relaxing. Just chill and chat.
But what caught my eye was. «fresh made lemonade» Yeah. We were boiling hot while working (we have dark clothing and boots) and decided to take a break here. The lemonade was AWESOME! You can choose tart or sweet, Ice or lots of ice. We felt so refreshed after our little visit. The service was awesome.
Aside from chocolate they offer; ice cream, shakes, lemonade (fresh), and I believe frozen yogurt. Lovely setting. From what I understand they cover everything from weddings to baby showers to anniversary treats. They offer chocolate for diabetics too.
Will go again. So what I needed on a hot day!

Thanks to the previous review by Jennifer, getting there wasn’t too bad :) Musselman Lake is right in front of the shop, and right in front of my lane because it was going uphill. I thought my lane ends there! Fortunately no, and it was suuuuch a gorgeous view.
I had the WagJag coupon too, and it expired yesterday (Monday)!!! They were closed Sun & Mon, so I called today (Tues) to ask if I could still use it. She was so nice, so sweet, and she said okay. So I drove over there immediately.
The store is small but so adorable. She gave me a sample of baby truffles and it was soooooooooooooooo amazingly gooodd. I miss it actually, and omg why didn’t I ask to get it.
When I called her, she was telling me that there were family troubles. Her mother died just less than two weeks ago, and there were other family issues (another family member sick), so she was taking care of the business alone. It’s really difficult for her, but I see that she’s so strong and so amazing. Visiting her was worth the trip!
As Jennifer has already stated, do give the shop a call before you visit! The hours have changed due to the above issues, but that hasn’t stopped Charlinda from continuing its family tradition. Lovelinesses.

Armed with an address from a WagJag coupon I got a while back… I decided to go visit Charlinda Belgian Chocolates.
My GPS kept asking me to drive North North North… I passed Stouffville’s Main Street and I still need to go more north? Until I almost drove right down into Musselman’s Lake… then I made a sharp turn and saw Charlinda Belgian Chocolates…
Cute storefront facing the lake. with sitting up at the Roof top and right in front of the store.
All their chocolate are hand made and you must try their icewine truffles… and of course all those cute shaped chocolates would have made any adults or kids happy!
Call before you head over, as their hours changes all the time… You really don’t want to drive all the way there and find out it is closed, especially if you come up during winter…