Theo Chocolate Factory & Flagship Store, Seattle

Theo Chocolate can be found in retailers all over Seattle, but their neat little flagship store and factory is always well worth a visit. Located in the Fremont neighborhood, the space is clean, well organized, and fully stocked with any and all Theo variations you can imagine, including several truffles, caramels, and seasonal shapes.

Theo have been making chocolate and giving family-friendly tours of their factory since 2006. Visitors get to see different machines and how they are operated (which is perfect for curious kids), but the guides also explain where the ingredients are sourced from and how these are shipped to Seattle, as well as how chocolate is subsequently produced, with special attention to the amount of each ingredient and regulations on what one can call milk chocolate, dark chocolate, etc. Interspersed with the talk are many delicious samples to illustrate the points being made.

Furthermore, Theo has a diverse selection of delicious flavors, which customers can sample even if they don't take the tour. Their website states, "There's always something new and yummy to discover at the Theo factory store, where generous sampling is a daily activity!" Clearly, they are not reluctant to hand out samples, which are made fresh every day in the same building, so feel free to try them! All of the chocolate is locally made, responsibly sourced and fair trade.