Cocoa Dreamer

We take a moment between nibbling our chocolate bars to talk to Liz Rowe about the formation of Otago Chocolate Company (OCHO).

Do we call you a chocolatier or a chocolate maker?

I call myself a chocolate maker not a chocolatier. The latter is someone who works with chocolate to create chocolate-based treats and desserts. As a chocolate maker I'm more interested in the front end of the process, where cocoa beans are turned into chocolate.

Obviously you've spent a lot of time fine tuning your craft, but have you ever had a chocolate making disaster?

No, there's been no major disasters. I worry about power cuts at the wrong time because once the machines are going they stay on for three days non-stop. Once we did have a power cut at night, but it came back on before the chocolate had time to set in the machine. Some kind of big flood where water got into the machines would be a disaster, but that hasn't happened.

You're heading out for dessert, what does a professional sweet treat maker choose to end a meal?

To be honest, if I'm out for dinner it's hard to go past creme brulee for dessert. But if I'm having people for dinner, I tend to make a chocolate torte cake which is mainly chocolate, butter & eggs - delicious but surprisingly quick and easy to make. 

What's the best part about being a goods producer in Dunedin?

The best part about being based in Dunedin is being able to live in a great city, where you can work near the city centre and that's still easy to get around. Lots of really good people also live in Dunedin which makes it easier to find the staff we need.