Valrhona is always the first name that comes to mind when people talk about great European chocolate. For almost one hundred years, Valrhona has been praised around the world for its skill, talent, and dedication to using only the best cocoa. Valrhona is one of our trusted partners at Santa Barbara Chocolate. This means that our customers can buy chocolate from one of France's most renowned chocolate makers.
A Shared Passion for Chocolate
Santa Barbara Chocolate has long collaborated with artisan European cocoa grinders to create unique couvertures. These partnerships allow us to develop chocolates with distinct profiles that meet the expectations of professional chocolatiers, pastry chefs, and home bakers alike. Among those collaborations, our relationship with Valrhona holds a special place.
Working with Valrhona shows that we both care about quality and value the art of making chocolate. The fact that they are experienced and dedicated to sourcing cocoa in an ethical manner makes their chocolate an excellent contender for both our wholesale and retail lines of business.
The Valrhona Legacy
Valrhona was founded in 1922 in Tain-l'Hermitage, a small hamlet in the Rhône Valley of France. The company is known for its workmanship and new ideas. Valrhona has always concentrated on making dark chocolate with character that reflects the places where the cocoa is cultivated and the skills of the farmers who grow it, unlike many other big chocolate makers.
This approach has made Valrhona a favorite among chefs, pâtissiers, and artisan chocolatiers across the globe. Their couvertures are widely used in Michelin-starred kitchens, fine bakeries, and specialty chocolate shops because of their consistency, flavor, and reliability.
A Personal Connection
Our relationship with Valrhona began many years ago with Monsieur Olivier de Loisy, who used to own and run the company. Olivier was a terrific companion and friend because he was really pleasant and knew a lot about cacao. He led in a way that showed the same care, honesty, and respect for the art of making chocolate that Valrhona puts into all of their products.
That connection has grown into a long-standing partnership, one we continue to value today. Personal and professional, it's based on respect for each other and a belief in the value of chocolate that tells a story.
Beyond Couverture: Valrhona’s Craftsmanship
Valrhona is best known for its couvertures, but the company also makes unique chocolate lines, bonbons, and truffles that show off the art of French confectionery.
If you like chocolate, trying Valrhona's finished sweets is a treat you'll never forget. They show the same care that goes into their couvertures, but in shapes that are meant to be eaten one bite at a time.
Why Valrhona Stands Out
Valrhona sets itself apart in several important ways:
Craftsmanship and Tradition
Each batch of Valrhona chocolate shows that the company has learned a lot over the past 100 years. They use a blend of old-fashioned and careful modern ways to make chocolate. Even though this makes sure the chocolate is always the same, it still lets the taste of each type of cacao shine through.
Moral Purchasing
Valrhona grows cocoa responsibly, building long-term partnerships with farmers to support communities and ensure quality for consumers. American consumers, who value honesty and fairness more and more in the goods they buy, really connect with this commitment.
Flavor Innovation
Valrhona has always tried to come up with new and interesting chocolate flavors. They always make chocolates that lead to new ideas, from couvertures from a single origin that bring out the unique flavor of a place to creative blends made just for top cooks.
Living Up To What American Customers Want
American chocolate lovers today care about more than taste. They want to know that the chocolate they buy reflects values of fairness, responsibility, and authenticity. Valrhona has built its name on these traits, which makes it a natural fit for what modern customers want.
Valrhona couvertures help cooks and bakers get consistent results in everything from ganache to pastry by making recipes more reliable. For everyday chocolate lovers, the company’s finished products offer a direct connection to the artistry of French chocolate making.
This combination of trust, flavor, and responsibility is why Valrhona continues to stand out in an increasingly competitive chocolate market.
How We Give You Valrhona
At Santa Barbara Chocolate, we sell Valrhona to both large businesses and chocolate lovers on their own. Whether you’re a chocolatier looking for couverture to perfect your recipes or a home baker eager to work with the same chocolate trusted by professionals, Valrhona is part of our collection.
We believe that offering Valrhona is more than providing a product it’s offering access to one of the finest traditions in chocolate making. Every order carries with it the story of French expertise, ethical sourcing, and craftsmanship that has stood the test of time.
A Tradition That Continues
Chocolate brings people together from different countries, cultures, and generations. Chocolate isn't just food. I use it to remember, care for, and make art. Our relationship with Valrhona shows this. You can buy Valrhona from us, and that link will get stronger. Now, chocolate fans in the U.S. enjoy the tastes and values of one of France's best chocolatiers.
We respect Valrhona's past, craftsmanship, and dedication to fair trade, and we back them. We are continuing a practice that sees chocolate as a story about people, their passions, and their goals.
