Chocodiem

Fantastic chocolates! On the pricey side, but quality was certainly worth the price. Wonderful for gifts.

A small tight store sandwiched between The Clean Plate and the Riverside Coffee and Tea. They sell freshly baked brownies, macaroons, prepared bags of dark or milk chocolate covered espresso beans or raisins and bite size pieces & sold by the pound chocolates. Somehow they were able to fit everything in and still have enough room to walk around the room without feeling claustrophobic.
I bought my husband a prepared bag of dark chocolate covered espresso beans. That’s our souvenir from today’s trip into downtown Clifton, NJ. as we visited The Red Mill. After we got home, we ate some and was rewarded with the fine quality of dark chocolate. It was not the slightest bit bitter and the bean has a wonderful crunch to it. Did I mention it only costs $ 5???

Very fine chocolate. No ordinary Hershey’s found here. JT owner is very knowledgable and there were 6 of us that did a tasting class. Space is small so 6 – 7 was good for the tasting class. He also does a decorating class. Get on mailing list for upcoming events etc.

Cute chocolate shop hidden away in Clinton. Great truffles and really love their dark chocolate. The owner is extremely friendly and helpful. You have to search a bit to find it, but it’s worth it!

We’ll give them another chance because the chocolates look great but we bought macaroons for $ 2.60 each and they were so stale they shouldn’t be selling them, it was like biting into stale oatmeal sandwich cookies, just terrible. Extremely disappointing.

Last night I discovered a little corner of heaven. I attended a chocolate tasting at Chocodiem. This small shop along the water in Clinton is a gem. The owner clearly know and loves chocolate – fine chocolate! He is knowledgeable and informative. His product is creative and delicious. This is how chocolate is meant to be.
Of course I bought a box to take home and it will be a struggle to make them last. Don’t miss this fine store!

Wonderful, deliciously decadent chocolate! What I really love, though, are Chocodiem’s macarons. I feel as though I’m back in France when I eat them. Spectacular! I’m so grateful to have such a top quality business a few miles away from home. Thank you!

Amazing, high quality chocolates! Absolutely delicious. Owner also gets macarons from Macaron Café NYC. They are incredible. My husband usually stops in and says the owner is very nice and attentive.

So worth the one hour drive… And the money!
We actually stumbled upon this little piece of heaven while walking around Main St. looking for a different place. It’s a bit hidden so you really have to look for it…
The owner is such a nice guy, very attentive and knowledgeable. He gave us a few samples and we ended up buying everything we sampled. Loved the hazelnut truffle, pistachio orange bark, brownies, etc!
I can’t wait to come back; I definitely recommend it to anyone who loves good chocolate.

Totally… worth…every…penny…
Chocodiem rests in an alcove right next to Riverside Coffee so it’s a bit easy to miss. Run by Belgian Pharma guy named Jean-​Paul turned choclatier, maybe that’s why his chocolates are so addicting! HAHAHA-​HOOO! Lame joke aside, I’ll never fault anyone for chasing their dream, and that’s probably the reason why his chocolates are so good. He clearly likes what he does and his cheery disposition further proves it. After stumbling on this place, we chatted for a bit. Super nice guy and good people.
Moving on from the «Hey, let’s support small business mantra,» come here for the chocolates. First, they’re absolutely stunning to look at. Beautiful. Like edible jewelery. Second, delicious. True, every place does they’re own little exotic flavor now with a hint of such and such but he’s got rose hips and orange cayenne, which I loved. That and his are more flavorful than other lazy chocolate shops that seem to be popping up. I can’t adequately convey how good this is in a review though other than showing a rare 5 stars from me. Look at the pictures on this Unilocal page too. You’ll be enticed.

Yes, it does cost more than Hershey’s or anything else that you can find in the grocery store, but it really does taste much better than those, too! This is great chocolate, carefully perfected and prepared.
Not sure you’re ready to take the leap? Don’t be shy to ask for a sample. The owner is more than happy to let you try things, and also talk to you about the product and how it is made. He’s amazingly friendly and patient, even with my kids, who sometimes take a painfully long time to pick out treats – for themselves as well as for friends and family.
Not only does the stuff taste fabulous, but the presentation is gorgeous – perfect for gifts for any occasion!

Some of my fondest childhood memories are of visiting Hershey, PA. The smell of chocolate filled the air, and I still have vivid memories of doing the factory floor tour and seeing giant vats of molten chocolate being stirred by huge mechanical arms. I have since been fortunate to sample fine chocolates from Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France and Belgium, and know now that Hershey’s isn’t really a particularly good chocolate, but the smell and taste of chocolate still evokes warm and happy memories – it is the ultimate comfort food.
I recently visited Chocodiem, a Belgian chocolate shop in Clinton, NJ, and I am happy to report it triggered all those happy memories. They make their chocolates on site, and the array of beautifully crafted chocolates in all sorts of intriguing shapes and colors had my mouth watering. The actual taste test did not disappoint – this is not your childhood Hershey bar!
Jean Paul Hepp is the proprietor of Chocodiem. He is friendly and engaging, with an enthusiasm for his craft which is infectious. Mr. Hepp is originally from Belgium and has a background in the sciences. This is a wonderful combination of traits, as he marries the finest traditions of European taste and craftsmanship with a scientist’s questing mind. A perfect example of this is his «naked» truffle, an innovative confection which has to be experienced to be understood and appreciated. All of his chocolate creations are beautiful to look at and delicious. One of my favorites are the milk chocolate enrobed almond biscuits. Richly flavored, delicately crunchy yet with a melt in the mouth texture – they are truly one of the best chocolate confections I have ever had anywhere.
Chocodiem is well worth seeking out. Its location is not the best (that’s why I dinged it one star), but not too hard to find. It is on Main Street in Clinton, just over the bridge from the Red Mill, in a big building that houses a frame shop, Riverside Café, and several other businesses. Give them a try – you won’t be disappointed!

The chocolate is delicious– very high quality. The owner and chocolate maker is from Belgium. I suggest the naked dark chocolate truffles!