Magical Milk at Noosa Chocolate Factory
Chocoholic Rebecca Jamieson Dwyer embarks on her dream assignment – discovering what makes a certain locally made milk chocolate so delicious…
For some people, it’s dark; for others, it’s white – but I can confirm I’ve been a lover (and connoisseur) of magical milk chocolate my entire life. For me, it’s that silky sweetness that melts in the mouth and really delivers the dopamine.
I’ve tried all the milk chocolates around, and it’s clear there’s one that’s the cream of the (cocoa) crop: the milk chocolate from beloved local business Noosa Chocolate Factory, which creates products in a veritable rainbow of flavours, colours, shapes and sizes to satisfy even the most discerning enthusiasts.
Stepping into their temperature-controlled, solar-powered factory, it’s easy to see the love, care and passion that goes into making what I’d argue is Australia’s most delicious chocolate.
Huge vats bubble with silky warm chocolate (you can imagine the aroma!) while talented team members assemble, roll, pour and decorate the decadent offerings, which then go straight onto the shelf for you to buy – it doesn’t get much fresher or more local than that.
Noosa Chocolate Factory General Manager Nick Southon says milk chocolate is enduringly popular with customers.
“Milk chocolate has that creamy, sweet flavour profile which comes from the milk solids and higher sugar content, giving it a smooth mouthfeel and mellow taste,” Nick said. “At Noosa Chocolate Factory, we use 36% cocoa for our milk chocolate, resulting in the perfect balance of flavours.”
A chocoholic’s paradise, Noosa Chocolate Factory creates milk chocolate in every flavour under the sun: think Milk Chocolate Slabs of Orange Jelly, Smashed Raspberry, Smashed Peppermint, Salted Caramel, and Rose Turkish Delight; Milk Chocolate Macadamia Balls; Milk Chocolate Black Cherries; Milk Chocolate Ginger; Milk Chocolate Rolled Pecans and more – all made from thoughtfully chosen local ingredients.
“Four sets of eyes go over every product we make in the factory, and everything is handcrafted the traditional way using local ingredients,” Nick said.
“The fruits and nuts we use are proudly from Queensland where possible, or elsewhere in Australia – such as our Queensland pineapples, strawberries and oranges for our famous fruit jelly fillings, and our almonds are specially sourced from South Australia.”
All Noosa Chocolate Factory goodies – whether white, dark or milk – are free from additives, artificial colours and palm oil, and most are coeliac friendly.
They also offer a vegan chocolate range, which according to our resident lactose-free nominee Jakki, is divine!
As are other products for those who can’t tolerate dairy – the Coconut Marshmallows covered in toasted coconut are a big hit in our office and tick all the dietary needs!
Milk chocolate accounts for about 60% of Noosa Chocolate Factory sales – so why do we love it so much?
“Many of us grew up eating milk chocolate as kids, so one taste immediately transports us back to that moment – and that nostalgia and emotional connection can make the experience of eating it more enjoyable,” Nick explains. Makes sense to me.
Apparently, it’s not just me who gets a dopamine kick when biting into a block of magical milk goodness – I recently learned that from a psychological point of view, milk chocolate triggers the brain’s reward centres by delivering the perfect ingredients for a comfort treat, which makes you feel good.
The moral of the story?
We all need more milk chocolate from Noosa Chocolate Factory in our lives!
MILKING IT
We quizzed the IN Noosa Magazine team about their favourite Noosa Chocolate Factory milk chocolate…
Bex – I’m obsessed with the Orange Jelly Slab; it’s the ultimate combo that reminds me of the chocolate oranges from my childhood but is 100% more fresh and delicious.
Deb – The Salted Caramel Slab is my favourite indulgent treat that keeps me going during deadline (and pairs perfectly with a glass of wine).
Ali – Coffee and chocolate are my two favourite things, so I always have the Mocha Slab in my desk drawer!
Jakki – The entire milk chocolate vegan range – I’m so grateful to Noosa Chocolate Factory for making delicious handcrafted chocolate available to us dairy intolerant folk.
Pip – The milk chocolate freeze-dried Whole Strawberries are the prettiest and tastiest treat around!
Michelle – I’m nuts about the milk chocolate Rolled Pecans dusted with cocoa powder – they’re totally moreish.
Jodie – I used to own a macadamia farm, so I can’t go past the milk chocolate Whole Macadamias, which are all grown in Queensland – many of them right here on the Sunshine Coast. They’re the perfect combination of sweetness and crunch!
