Makers’ Market: The delicious lineup for Cambridge Chocolate Festival

Cambridge Chocolate Festival is back! Returning to Cambridge Union for a one-day For the Love of Indies market - running 10am to 5pm on Saturday, February 15 - it’s a chance to browse and buy everything from bars and bonbons to plants and crafts. As media partner for the event, Velvet meets the traders

Ana’s Couture Chocolate creates luxury, handcrafted chocolates inspired by the beauty of nature and diverse cultures. “Each piece is meticulously crafted, blending artisanal techniques with an eye for elegant, artistic design,” says Ana. “Our chocolates are as visually stunning as they are delicious, featuring flavours that range from classic favourites to unique combinations, all made with high-quality ingredients to deliver an exquisite tasting experience.” @ana_schoco

Anisa & Chocolate is a chocolate-maker based in Ely, working from a tiny timber workshop in her garden. “I use transparently traded, single-origin beans to make my chocolate bars,” she explains. “Each bar tells a story. Its flavour reflects its terroir and the love and effort that has been put into growing the cocoa and transforming it into the final product.” @anisa_chocolate

Nenette Chocolates, based in rural Leicestershire, has been making chocolates for more than 15 years. Founder Nenette Scrivener hand-makes every chocolate in small batches, tempering by hand for a perfect finish every time. She uses simple, fresh and locally-sourced ingredients. And only Callebaut chocolate because of its sustainable story - and because, she adds, it tastes the best! @nenettechocolates

Rachel Bakes, owned by Le Cordon Bleu-trained patisserie chef Rachel, specialises in dessert tables, event favours and afternoon teas as well as also offering work lunches and celebration cakes. Rachel, who’s Cambridge-based, also teaches pop-up chocolate classes. @rachelbakesuk

HoneyShed Bakery founder Ana Cerdeno-Tarraga has been baking for more than 14 years now, and chocolate has always featured heavily on her cakes menu. Based in Dullingham, she’s joining the Cambridge Chocolate Festival for the second year with her celebrated brownies and blondies, her New York-style cookies and some of the chocolate cake flavours that will feature in her new 2025 menu. Ana is also organising a brownie/wine pairing tasting session with independent wine merchant Corney & Barrow. @honeyshedbakery

Sweet Keto Chef, aka Matthew Caruana, is a professional chef with more than 20 years’ experience in fine dining and hospitality. After losing 120lbs on a ketogenic diet, he wrote a book about the sugar-free desserts he ate while doing it. Now he's specialising in award-winning sugar-free chocolate, with a zero-tolerance policy of child labour or any form of modern slavery. Everything is made by hand in the beautiful Herefordshire countryside, with the principles of being healthy, delicious and ethical. @sweet_keto_chef

Bitesize Bakehouse in Saffron Walden is known for its gourmet marshmallows, brownies, bars and filled chocolates. All are “hand-crafted sweet treats made to savour and indulge; low-waste, sustainable and thoughtfully made to order,” says founder Jade Boswell.@bitesizebakehouse

Mayoy Cacao is a Venezuelan origin bean-to-bar chocolate-maker based in London. Working directly with cocoa farmers, associations and producers, the brand offers a transparent trade, benefiting the local communities and guaranteeing the cacao origins, sustainability and quality. Says founder Jose: “'Mayoy' means friend in our ancestral language – we love making friends and sharing our cacao expertise and passion everywhere we go! Our mission is to make Venezuelan cacao known in the world and for people to choose bean-to -bar.”@mayoycacao

BEANDOCK is a UK-based artisanal chocolate brand specialising in high-quality, chemical-free chocolates crafted with natural ingredients. In collaboration with Anuttama Chocolates from South India, the team “deliver rich, sustainable cocoa products that cater to health-conscious consumers and chocolate enthusiasts alike”. @beandock_indian_orchids

Truffles and Chocolate, based in Papworth, emerged from founder Janet Marsh’s own love for chocolate, flair for flavour and talent for artistry. Specialising in artisan chocolates, delicate truffles, and beautifully designed confectionery, “whether you're looking for inspiration for your next corporate event or a luxurious gift, we’re here to make life a little sweeter — one bite at a time,” says Janet. Showcasing her latest creations at the festival, newness includes chocolate novelties and a hamper collection. @truffles_and_chocolates

CHOCOLATEgenie, specialist in handmade Belgian truffles and chocolate novelties, is making its debut at the festival. As well as selling their artisan wares, the team, known for their classes in everything from basic skills to truffle making, will be running a drop-in children’s workshop all day. Located on the main stage, it’s a chance for little visitors to make a seasonally shaped and decorated slab. facebook.com/Chocolategenie1

Chocolate Seekers is based in Kettering and run by Carlene Cole and Brian Roberts, who seek out bean-to-bar craft chocolate - made from the top 5% of cocoa beans - from around the world. They are dedicated to bringing hard-to-find chocolate to the UK; chocolate that's crafted with love, care and passion and minimal ingredients; chocolate that provides cocoa farmers with a better income and allows them to protect the environment.@chocolateseekers

Cocoa Jones crafts handmade truffles and bonbons from single-origin Colombian cacao, filled with luxurious seasonal ingredients, at its Surrey kitchen HQ. The team also specialises in “decadent chocolate bars — dark, milk and inclusions — inspired by rare, delicate cacaos from around the world”. “And,” they add, “our hot chocolate is bold, distinctive and full of flavour. . . just the thing to make you feel spoiled and comforted.” @cocoajoneschoc

VG Coffeeis a Cambridge-based coffee and hot chocolate stand with quality, flavour and sustainability at its core. With more than 15 years in the business, Tom Ross and his team deliver vegan products that break stereotypes. As you’d expect, for Cambridge Chocolate Festival they’ll be showcasing their hot chocolate skills - with three (or maybe more) varieties on the menu. @vgcoffeeuk

Small & Green, the Cambridge plant and gift brand, is sponsoring Cambridge Chocolate Festival for the third year running. Founder Janet Fox will be bringing a selection of gifts, including art cards, mix-and-match plants and pots for Valentine’s Day and her signature hand-built terrariums, put together in the shop on Mill Road. She will also be offering future workshop experiences that participants can sign up to and attend together. @smallandgreencambridge

Always Crafty was created by Laura in 2019 near Ely. She specialises in handmade crochet creations, which range from realistic plants, flowers, and bouquets to delicate micro crochet jewellery. Each item is crafted with precision and care by Laura, bringing unique, artistic beauty to every piece.@alwayscraftyuk

Duck Egg Designsis the brainchild of Ely creative Kat. “From starting out with cards, prints and embroidered hoops - I now have a changed design style and have also branched out into jewellery, coasters, keyrings, pin badges, t-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks and tote bags. . . If you can put a print on it, I've considered doing a design for it! All my art is digital.”@duckeggdesignss

Further traders continue to join the market line-up, plus talks, tastings and workshops are in the pipeline. For more information and programme updates, bumbleandoakco.com and follow @camchocofest on Instagram.