Cacao Atlanta Chocolate Co. – Virginia-Highland

While other local confectioners craft pretty bon bons from couverture (a basic form of wholesale chocolate used to make truffles and pastries), Kristen Hard and her team make their world-class chocolate completely from scratch, starting with superior beans from places like Venezuela and Peru. Drop into Cacao’s elegant, Parisian-esque shops in Buckhead and Virginia-Highland to discover their latest whimsies. The new Epiphany line of bars showcases sophisticated flavors like dried cherries with crushed almonds, or candied ginger and pink peppercorn. And look for Christmas specials that include a truffle of cranberry pâte de fruit enrobed in spiced chocolate ganache.