For a chocolate lover, hearing about a café chain that wraps itself around cocoa and all things chocolate is like finding that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. And with Cocoa Colony, it’s a pot of “Amazonian Liquid Gold”. Fiction sets the grounds for this growing local brand, which has already opened six of 12 planned outlets in Singapore. Launched last December, the first outlet at the lobby of Shaw Centre is a small space with three bar seats to offer, whilst the newest store at Star Vista is its largest, catering up to 50 pax. To satiate your chocolate cravings, start with their signature hot cocoa, Cocoa 76 ($7.90, pictured above right), which is easier on the throat compared to the thick chocolate shot-like Cocoa 100 ($12.90). Note: Each number represents the percentage of cocoa used.

Tasting exactly as rich and indulgent as it sounds, is the Peanut Butter Gelato ($4.90 for a single scoop, pictured top left) with an additional layer of Amazonian Liquid Gold ($1 per serving). We like to think about the benefits of cocoa here. You know, how it relieves depression, strengthens the cardiovascular system and helps reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure and all that jazz. You can also choose to enjoy it sandwiched in a brioche (pictured above) the old-school way for $6.80.

But even if you’re a not a big fan of chocolate (hate is a strong word to use against chocolate, so we shan’t), it’s still possible to find options of your favour to savour. Gourmet sandwiches here come with bread options such as brioche, croissant and focaccia. Most decadent of your four choices is the Truffle Egg & Cucumber ($7.80). It’s creamy, aromatic and goes swimmingly well with their Elderflower Lychee Fizzy ($7 regular, $8 large) for a refreshing kick.

The Story Behind the Cocoa Brothers

For those curious enough, there’s more to Cocoa Colony’s logo than meets the eye. (No, not the one told by a koala, where a twister sucked up all the chocolate from a factory and released it over a wheat field.) It’s based on a story of two Spanish brothers – Carlos and Louie – who were enroute to California in search for a better life. A raging storm then capsized their ship, which had them washed ashore on Ecuador. There, they discovered cocoa – a rare commodity only royals could delight in – and later developed beverage and snack recipes for the masses to indulge in. View all Cocoa Colony outlets here. See also: Best chocolate treats in Singapore Popular dessert in Singapore

Written by Peh Yi Wen