Orange County’s First Chocolate Factory
SoCal’s original bean to bar chocolate factory, ChocXO (pronounced: choc-zo) just opened in Irvine, on Irvine Center Drive. It’s a dream come true for chocoholics, a dedicated lab that sources the world’s premium cacao beans and expertly processes it into sensational chocolates such as chocolate bars, filled chocolates, chocolate bark, English toffee, chocolate covered Oreos and other chocolate specialties.
What sets ChocXO apart from other local chocolate and confectionary brands is that ChocXO sources pure Criollo beans from hand-select farmers in Central and South America and with state-of-the-art processing equipment they can roast, winnow, roller refine and even conch the beans into fine chocolate.
ChocXO is part chocolate factory and retail store, with other Chocxo Coffee & Cacao outposts in Orange County, in Costa Mesa on Adams Avenue, and Lake Forest on Lake Forest Drive, where you can stop in for a bean to barista coffee experience and pick up chocolate treats.
Mark your calendar for two upcoming events at ChocXO in Irvine:
On Friday, Nov. 21 from 5 to 7 p.m. there’s a Chocolate Happy Hour where you can learn about their chocolate-making process by taking a guided tour every 30 minutes (5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m., 6:30 p.m.) and enjoy free hot chocolate, liquid chocolate shots, and chocolate samples along the way.
On Saturday, Nov. 22 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. celebrate ChocXO's Grand Opening. You can dress up as an Oompa Loompa (green hair/orange face) and receive free chocolate for a year!*
Just post a pic of yourself to your Facebook or Instagram and tag ChocXo, and receive a free chocolate covered Oreo!
Twenty-five “Golden Tickets” will be hidden inside the 40g bars. Those who find the winning tickets inside bars they purchase will win a free Behind the Scenes Factory Tour for them and a guest (redeemable anytime in next 12 months; must call to schedule tour).
One Behind the Scenes Factory Tour will start at 10 a.m. ($20 ticket includes 10% merchandise discount after the tour; may be purchased online at chocxo.com; any remaining spots will be available for purchase on-site at 10 a.m.)
Free guided front-of-the-house tours at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Learn about the process and see all the factory action from behind the glass.
Free stuff! Chocolate covered Oreos for kids, hot chocolate and coffee, liquid chocolate shots
* Free chocolate for a year: One 40g chocolate bar per day for one year starting January 2, 2015; redeemable at the Costa Mesa and Lake Forest cafés or Irvine factory store.
Open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday.
ChocXO Irvine Chocolate Factory is at 9461 Irvine Center Drive in Irvine. 949.825.5781
Open 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday; 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
ChocXO Coffee & Cacao Costa Mesa is at 1534 Adams #A in Costa Mesa.
657.231.6190.
Open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday; 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday; 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
ChocXO Coffee & Cacao Lake Forest is at 20025 Lake Forest Drive #101 in Lake Forest. 949.305.2800.
ChocXO Giveaway
We’re giving away a great ChocXO giveway: one lucky person will have an opportunity to bring three friends in for a Chocolate Happy Hour & Factory Tour any Tuesday through Friday between 5 to 7 p.m. or any Saturday or Sunday between 2 and 6 p.m.
It will consist of Champagne and chocolate, a front of the house tour along the windows that overlook the factory where the entire chocolate making process will be explained, along with samples of the chocolate every step of the way. Afterwards you can taste the warm, liquid chocolate and be given a goodie bag to take with them. We will choose the winner on Friday, Nov. 21. Simply subscribe to Greer’s OC and enter promo code “ChocXO”. If you are already a subscriber, encourage a friend to subscribe.
ChocXO will coordinate a day and time with the winner anytime between now and March 30, 2015.
