Just one block off Main Street you can find Julian's newest hidden gem, Juliantla Chocolate. Yesenia Rodriguez, the Juliantla Chocolatier, recently moved to Julian to make her dream a reality. She opened Juliantla Chocolate in October of 2017 in a small shop on B Street.
"Juliantla is a small mountain town in Guerrero, Mexico. My mother is from Guerrero. She grew up toasting and grinding cacao beans by hand to make hot chocolate for her family. This was one of her many chores while growing up on her family's farm. My mom was taking part in an ancient practice without even knowing it! Indegenous peoples have been making and drinking chocolate for thousands of years! I'm so proud of my culture and my history, I simply wanted to pay homage to my roots. Juliantla was the perfect name since it includes the word "Julian" (a town I have fallen in love with, and I'm so happy to call it home), but it's pronounced in Spanish and it's actually in Mexico." -Yesenia
It's no secret that their specialty is chocolate but don't let the name fool you. Here you can find a great selection of chocolate confections including locally-crafted truffles, fudge, and Oaxaca chocolate disks. In addition the wonderful chocolate selection, you may find Swedish candy bars, T-shirts, tea, baked goodies (including apple pie), and Mountain Made candles. Vegan friendly items are also offered. Coming from a non vegan, just because it's "vegan" doesn't mean it's lacking in taste. So, don't be afraid to try new things!
I have had such a blast working with Yesenia on creating the perfect candles to fit in her charming shop. Currently, she offers Hot Cocoa candles in our Mountain Made camper mug and 4oz soy candle tins. Our Hot Cocoa fragrance is a rich chocolate fudge with a touch of cream. They are a chocolate lover's must have!
