We are here to answer all your questions! If you can't find the answer you are looking for below, please email us at info@exquisitochocolates.com

 

FAQ

 

1. Why is shipping so expensive? Chocolate is a delicate and fragile product that requires a lot of care during the shipping process. In order to preserve freshness and ensure that your chocolate arrives in the best condition, we use thermal packaging and gel packs. We break even on our shipping costs and zero profit is made. We know that in the era of Amazon Prime, many customers are accustomed to free shipping, but we are truly a small business doing our best to get our products to you with care. Read more about our shipping policy here.
   
   
2. Are you still shipping right now? Yes, we absolutely are. We offer both shipping and in-store pick-up at check-out. Read more about our shipping policy here.
   
   
3. Why are you so expensive? Our products are made with only the highest quality sustainably sourced ingredients. We buy our cacao direct trade from farmers in Latin America and the Caribbean and pay them above market rate to ensure that they are earning a fair wage for their hard work. Once the cacao beans arrive at our factory, we manage the entire chocolate-making process, from bean to final product! From start to finish, the laborious process to make just one batch of chocolate can take over 4 days. A lot of care, attention to detail, patience, and precision goes into the process to deliver a fine quality product. Read more about our sourcing origins here and about the chocolate-making process here.
   
   
4. When will my order arrive? Once you place an order you will receive automated notifications via email from our shipping system updating you when your order is being prepared by us, when the shipping carrier picks it up, when it is out for delivery, and when it has been delivered. The email updates will also link out to the carrier’s shipping schedule showing timestamps at each point in the shipping process. Please refer to these emails for all your shipping information; this is all the information we have too! Note that if you place your order before noon on Tuesday, it will ship that same week. If you order after noon on Tuesday, it will ship the following week. Read more about our shipping policy here.
   
   
5. Do you still offer tours? Due the current global health crisis, our factory is not open for in-person tours, but very soon, we will be offering virtual tours, where you can get behind-the-scenes access and see our entire chocolate-making process from start to finish. Keep checking in our website homepage for updates on virtual tour launch and schedule!
   
   
6. Do you ship internationally? We ship internationally on a request-only basis. Please send us an email at info@exquisitochocolates.com and we will determine whether shipping to your international location is possible. We decide on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration multiple factors including temperature conditions at the final destination (ex: chocolate sitting in a hot customs warehouse would not make for a pretty package upon arrival). Note that for international orders, we only ship non-perishable goods like chocolate bars. Bonbons cannot be shipped internationally because of their perishable nature. They have a limited shelf-life without refrigeration, and we do not use any preservatives. Read more about our shipping policy here.
   
   
7. How long will my chocolate last? For bars, shelf-life is 1+ years. We recommend storing chocolate bars in a cool dry place, ideally between 65-70 degrees Fahrenheit. We do not recommend storing it in the fridge, but if you do, place it inside a resealable bag or container. For Bonbons, to ensure freshness, we recommend you enjoy them as soon as you receive them. Since we do not use any preservatives or corn syrup, they will last 10 days when properly stored in the fridge.

8. Can I ship to an APO (military base)? Because many APO bases have international locations, we apply the same procedure as international orders. We ship internationally on a request-only basis. Please send us an email at info@exquisitochocolates.com and we will determine whether shipping to your international location is possible. When shipping to APOs, we cannot guarantee that your products will arrive in the best condition which is why we work on a case-by-case basis. Note that for international orders, we only ship non-perishable goods like chocolate bars. Bonbons cannot be shipped internationally because of their perishable nature. Read more about our shipping policy here.
   
   
9. Can I order in advance and delay delivery to a specific date or holiday? Yes, absolutely. When you are checking out there is a note section where you should leave us a message. Please specify the date on which you would like your delivery to arrive and we will hold your package and send it out at your requested time.
   
   
10. Are any of your products vegan? Yes! Though we are not a fully vegan brand, we do offer some vegan products. All our dark chocolate bars are dairy-free. For all products, we list ingredients in the product description, and we will indicate if a product contains dairy or is vegan.