Chocolats du Calibressan

Jill, one of the owners, is such a sweetheart and the new store is absolutely beautiful! 5 of us came in and we were gifted chocolates and gelato! We tried the mint chocolate chip gelato, lemon sorbet, blackberry sorbet, pistachio gelato and their seasonal violet truffle. Delicious, sweet, tangy, creamy and full of natural flavor describes our treats!

These chocolates are just amazing. A lot of original flavors and high quality. You need to be reasonable if you buy the whole store. Sometime people say these chocolates are expensive. Quality has a price. If you don’t want to pay for quality go to cheaper chocolate franchise. People don’t want to pay $ 2 for high quality chocolate but they are ok to pay $ 5 for a Starbuck coffee !!! Jean Michel is a passionate professional and that do the difference.

We happened by on Halloween of all days, and just HAD to get some chocolates.
It was such a treat! We got a few pieces to go, including the Buddha. I can’t explain how you can taste the exquisite favors and quality in each chocolate, you have the experience for yourself. The ingredients are rich without being overbearing or too sweet.
We ate ours back at the hotel with some champagne for a nice after dinner treat. The bonus was that our hotel had complimentary chocolates from here on our pillows — yay!
If you like chocolate, do yourself a favor and go here at once.

This is a great little chocolate shop right off of State Street in Santa Barbara. They have some really unique flavors, like cardamom, lotus, and lemon ginger. It’s a little bit on the expensive side (for $ 7, you get a 3 piece gift box with three chocolates of your choice) but that’s pretty comparable to other chocolate shops, especially once you consider the location and quality.
The staff was very friendly and helpful, even making suggestions on flavors and giving us tips on how to best save money (for example, you can get your chosen chocolates a la carte, in a gift bag instead of in a box, and it is marginally cheaper).
Stop in here if you’re wandering down State Street and interested in some delicious chocolate, or need a gift for someone.

Such a nice chocolate shop!

Excellent chocolates. It was my first visit, in honor of my choco-​holic best friend being in town. Our favorites were the Geranium Bonbon, the Tahitian Vanilla, the Tequila Truffle (a special flavor due to it being Fiesta in Santa Barbara), and the salted caramel-​filled Buddha.
I will definitely be back to for these and to try more flavors

Went to the chocolate tasting today and it was amazing. Props to the young lady who was working today too– she was super cool and welcoming. I would highly suggest the passion fruit if you like white chocolate and tart filling… it was so good. I’m drooling thinking about it.

Wonderful artisan chocolates. I’m not a huge fan of the typical chains like Godiva or See’s but these were on a caliber of their own. Favorite bon bons were:
The Lips called French Bisous — Dark and milk chocolate ganache flavored with tangerine liquor, covered with white chocolate.
Fleur de lis shaped Chocolate called Geranium — Geranium (slightly floral) flavored dark and milk chocolate ganache, covered with dark chocolate.
Buddha shaped Chocolate called Buddha Beauties with Salted soft caramel sauce surrounded by dark chocolate.
Koi Chocolate called Fish — a dark chocolate ganache filled with old fashioned peanut butter.
The bon bons are sooooo incredibly beautiful, have the perfect glossy sheen to them, chocolates are tempered correctly and contain exceptional flavor. Makes for the perfect gift for foodie friends. Cost approximately $ 2 a piece which is a steal for something as beautiful and delicious as these miniature works of art.

I’ve had this place bookmarked for quite sometime and I just never got around to going here but thanks to John K. who inquired about it, it gave me the push to finally check it out!
My first thought as I walked in was wow this place is going to be expensive! Lol… Just by looking at the display of chocolates is kind of intimidating but at the same time I found myself staring at each beautifully handmade chocolate in awww.
Each piece will cost you $ 1.80 but the quality you get to me is worth it! And afterall they are artisan chocolates made fresh.
From the truffles, bonbons, and soft caramels it was hard to choose. But with the help of the kind lady behind the counter she made my choices easier.
I opted for the most popular choices among customers. Starting with the Buddha Beauty because he was just too cute not to buy but aside from that he holds the most amazing salted caramel inside that just oozes into your mouth with the first bite. His shell is made with dark chocolate. Need I say more!
Next was the pretty red lips aka the Bisous. Made with dark and milk chocolate ganache flavored with tangerine liquor, covered with white chocolate. Wow another winner in my book!
Antillais a creamy rum flavored chocolate with banana, and covered in white chocolate was also delicious.
My son chose the Bressan (the shoe), the blood orange caramel, and the La Arcadia turtle (not pictured) but filled with «cajeta» a Mexican milk caramel. I didn’t get to try these since he ate them so fast but he loved them. Kid approved!
This place is truly a hidden gem in the heart of Santa Barbara and I would totally recommend to at least try it once if you’ve never had fine French artisan chocolates.

The crunchy caramelia is a gift from god. Jill & Jon Michael (the owners) are so kind as well!

I came here to try some of this places fancy chocolate. The lady behind the counter was very nice and patient. And after taking a good 10 mins to decide, my sister and I picked out a few different chocolates and took them outside to enjoy.
The chocolates were good, super rich and dense. Almost to the point where you didn’t want to eat more than just a small bite of each one. In total we got 4 pieces to share and while they were good, I didn’t think any of them were worth their semi hefty price tag.

Small little chocolate shop hidden in an alley off of State St. I am always eager to try new artisanal chocolate shops, so I popped in to see what they had.
While I don’t mind trying exotic flavors with my chocolate like Balsamic Vinegar or Sichuan Pepper, 99.4% of the time, I like the standard stuff like Milk or White Chocolate with Pralines, Almonds, Hazelnuts, Caramel, and other simple flavors. I do LOVE dark chocolate, but usually only when it’s by itself and no fillings of any sort.
For this visit, I bought a few small bars: Milk Chocolate w/​Cracked Caramel Bits, Organic Ecuador Rainforest Milk Chocolate 39%, White Chocolate with Caramelized Almonds, and lastly, a few pieces of their Rochers. Nothing really stood out from these bars, but that doesn’t mean they’re not good. They are. Really good! While it’s not at the top of my favorite chocolatiers, it definitely stands out as better than some of the mid-​tier establishments like Sees or Godiva (yes, I don’t consider Godiva a high-​end candy store).

Came across this shop while strolling State Street on a visit to Santa Barbara. I am a bit of a chocolate snob, and the chocolates here are some of the best I’ve found. I bought 6 pieces for about $ 10. Everything I tasted was a caramel, and the balance with the chocolate was just superb.
I had a fish, a buddha, a flower, and a pair of lips. Just really excellent chocolate and so gorgeous too. Makes an excellent gift. You know it’s good chocolate when one piece satisfies your chocolate craving for a whole day. So yes, it took me 4 days to eat those! Enjoy!

We tried the $ 6 tasting menu. There were 4 of us, but we ordered 2 «tasting meals» i. e, 6 chocolates. All of them were SUPERB. We’ve tried chocolates in Paris, Belgium, Switzerland. and are crazy about chocolate. Our favorites were mocha chocolate, salted caramel, plain dark and earl grey.

Two Words: Chocolate Heaven
I usually make my own chocolate using 2 – 3 ingredients. But, my friend invited me to go chocolate tasting. It was a genius idea.
You can choose 3 chocolates for $ 6 and they give you a few blocks of other chocolates. I chose the salted caramel, champagne truffle, and blood orange. As soon as I bit into the salted caramel, my eyes widened like a kid in a candy story. I felt an immediate surge of pleasure. It was a divine experience.
This is REAL chocolate. It may seem «expensive,» but it is worth the price. I was never much a Godiva fan, I am more of a Harry and David/See’s Candies gal. But, this just took my chocolate experience to a whole ‘notha level called Chocolate Heaven.
This would be a great place for a date or to take your family. Venture out to Chocolats du Calibressan and support this lovely local business!

We have all been to (or at least heard of) wine tastings, cheese tastings, and even beer tastings. What about a chocolate tasting? No, this isn’t a fantasy only available at Willy Wonka’s factory. This is the real deal at Chocolats du Calibressan, the lovely shop of French chocolatier Jean Michael Carre. Jean Michael Carre and his wife Jill are known for their French-​inspired chocolate truffles, caramels, and bon bons; and for good reason. Their business and offerings are fit for chocolate angels.
Celebrating my 30^th birthday meant a bit leeway on my strict diet and chocolates were perfectly fitting. My boyfriend and I ventured into Chocolats du Calibressan not knowing what to expect other than a localized version of Godiva. We walked into a shabby chic (one can feel the French inspiration) meets gourmet chocolate shop with gift boxes on one wall and a delectable chocolate truffle glass case against the other. Although the employee on duty was busy with a customer, she did acknowledge us while we browsed the case.
What did our eyes feast one? Truffles, bon bons, soft caramels, and single origin chocolates of all colors, designs, and flavors. Chocolat du Calibressan offers VERY unique flavors such as: Raspberry Balsamic, Champagne, Cardamom, tea flavors, fruit flavors, spices, salted caramels, etc. Not to mention, these come in beautiful colors and shapes. You won’t just find simple circles of chocolate at Chocolats du Calibressan. You can NOT look at this case without wanting to make like Veruca Salt in Willy Wonka and let greed take over.
Of course we decided to try some of these treats. Seeing that truffles cost $ 1.75, we then noticed the Holy Grail: a chocolate tasting for $ 6/​person. A tasting includes 3 pieces of chocolate of choice from the case per person plus individual blocks of chocolate (white, milk, and different percentages of dark). This is presented at a small room in the black of the shop at a lovely white wooden table with the chocolate on a silver platter. Tres chic! My boyfriend and I chose various pieces such as: Pineapple, Balsamic (salted Balsamic caramel), Blood Orange, Bourguignon (black current in white chocolate), and Buchette Irlandaise Truffle (Milk chocolate ganache with Irish whisky cream, covered with milk chocolate, rolled in powder sugar). The employee also offered a free special birthday salted caramel that said «Happy Birthday» on it.
How were the chocolates? DIVINE and worth every calorie and fat ounce. The chocolates are smooth and creamy while the fillings and flavors sparkle on the taste buds. My favorites were the Balsamic and the Buchette Irlandaise but all were chocolate masterpieces. These are the chocolates dreams are made of.
My only complaint is that the employee on hand left us to our own accord. This is great because the tasting was romantic and intimate but negative on the end that she wasn’t describing the chocolate flavors and inspirations; therefore not being a good salesperson trying to entice us to buy more. I am not saying she should have been pushy but I would liked more information in the same realm that you receive info on wineries and grape crops when tasting wine.
Other than that, the tasting is much recommended for a small in-​between activity on birthday and anniversaries or even for a group of women for a ‘girls night’. The presentation and quality at Chocolats du Calibressan is top-​notch. If a tasting isn’t your thing, maybe a single truffle is more your speed. Just make sure to push for service if you want a little extra info on the chocolate. So forgo a wine tasting and switch it up for chocolate. Willy Wonka would be proud.

Wow!!! After finishing my Fig Burger from State & Fig, I love chocolate, so I couldn’t resist.
The employee girl was super wonderful and helpful. I chose Buddha (salted caramel), bisou (tangerine liqueur), and since I told her I was new to the area, I got a free Champagne Truffle!
Buddha– absolutely DIVINE!!! wow. If you love someone, go get them some right now. The chocolate itself was beautiful, shaped like buddha with this gorgeous brown-​red color. BUT when I was done, my fingers were blood-​red, and I felt like a cannibal lol… aside from the awkward coloring and guilt, it tasted phenomenal.
Bisou– The white chocolate shell was overpowering for me. (I’m a dark chocolate girl). The Tangerine liqueur inside was yummy. The outside of the chocolate had this stunning red color, (the chocolate was shaped like lips) which ended up being a little messy also.
Champagne Truffle-​Good and Standard.
I’m going back for more Buddha soon!!!
Oh, and you get the chocolates in a box or bag. I got an adorable clear bag, complete with a black and red adorable business card, and sealed with a sticker! Awesome details, super thoughtful owners, I can’t get enough.

REAL chocolate cannot be found in the check-​out isle of your local grocery store. REAL chocolate does not come in a wrapper with the word «Hershey» on it. The United States of America is a world leader in most every category imaginable and I am beyond proud to be an American… but let’s face it, most of our beers and most of our chocolate sucks. Budweiser, Coors and Miller are watered-​down versions of real beer. Hershey & Mars are watered-​down versions of real chocolate. Many countries outside of the US actually laugh at these cheap imitations (and they are justified in doing so).
Fortunately, there are places like Chocolates du Calibressan in Santa Barbara & Carpinteria. They make REAL chocolate! Rich, smooth, decedent and delicious are appropriate adjectives for the chocolate artwork created at Chocolates du Calibressan. Do yourself a favor and stop at their store in Santa Barbara or Carpinteria. If you have only been eating chocolate from a 10 pound sack of last year’s Halloween candy then you are due for some REAL chocolate; your taste-​buds will love you for it.

These put Godiva to shame. Creative, rich chocolate, expertly crafted. With flavors to match. And so rich, you’ll be amazed at how much flavor can be packed into something so small.
Pick your favorite. The owner was so helpful and generous with her time. If only Iftar were closer and calorie free. Sigh.

My GF and I were strolling through the quaint La Arcada mall in SB when she noticed a chocolate shop with a sign indicating that they had chocolate tastings, no appointment required. Before I knew what happened, she yanks my hand and pulls me into the cute little shop.
If you need some chocolate aromatherapy, step in here for a few minutes. The aromas within are definitely seductive; I felt the sudden urge to go all Gomez Adams and start kissing my GFs hand, but I controlled myself (if she had laid some French on me, I might have lost it completely).
Light headed (and somewhat horny) from the lusty scents that filled the air, I walked over to the display case and was awestruck by the works of art within. Mary See would be envious if the old bat ever walked into this establishment. These obviously aren’t your Whitman’s-Sampler-factory-made-preservative-infused-chocolate-flavored bon bons. Instead, you’ll find fine artisan chocolates with unique fillings like Balsamic, Blood Orange Caramel, Ginger Lemon, and Curry Coconut. They are as beautiful as they are flavorful, so much so that you almost feel guilty biting into them (but don’t worry, it passes quickly).
I was also struck by how impeccably clean everything was in the shop; The display cases were polished and I couldn’t find a single misplaced crumb inside them. They obviously take a lot of pride in what they do here.
We ordered a single tasting (I opted out as I was saving my calories for dinner at Julienne later that evening) and they seated my GF at a tasting table in the back of the shop. In front of her they placed three chocolates of her choosing on a silver charger (again, impeccably clean and polished to a mirror shine), with a glass of water and a napkin. Along side they placed a piece of paper with five discs of various chocolates (white, milk, dark, and two dark pure origin) and descriptions of each. Total Cost: $ 6. Quite reasonable given the quality, IMHO.
The chocolates themselves run about two dollars each, and they sell them by the box if you’d like a larger assortment. If you really want to impress your lady, you can drop $ 125 for a 34-​piece assortment in a beautiful lacquered wooden treasure box complete with velvet underlining that would make even Lady Violet orgasmic.
Obviously, if you’re on a budget you won’t be swinging by here every evening for a truffle or two. But you do get what you pay for in this life, and some occasional quality indulgence is worth the coin now and again, especially for someone special. Recommended!