COVID-19 and the ensuing pandemic included a cross-generational craving for the past and better times to act as a buffer against current anxieties. A lot of brands seized on this, investing energy into creating nostalgic products that soothe and comfort. Nostalgia is less about actual memories and more about the feelings these memories conjure up. Seattle Chocolate Company has truly captured this concept with their newest collection of chocolates.

With summer just around the corner, Seattle Chocolate released a new collection of truffles and bars inspired by warm weather and classic ice cream flavors today. The lineup suggests that nostalgia had a heavy influence in the creation of these delights, encouraging us all to recreate childhood memories and recall the “before times”. 

For example, Mint Chip (in both bar and truffle form), which combines the bright flavor of mint, bold richness of bittersweet micro chocolate chips, and the smooth and creaminess of ice cream, all encased in a layer of 60 percent dark chocolate. It has a bold, strong, tangy flavor that awakens the taste buds, all the while making you feel wistfully connected to a carefree time when ice cream could solve all your problems.

For me, I was struck by this wistful feeling when I tried the Vanilla Orange Cream truffle. My childhood memories are peppered with hot summer days in the California sun sitting poolside with a dreamsicle. Seattle Chocolate nailed the simple, yet classic combination of zesty orange and velvety cream. Both the truffle and bar seem to be enrobed in an orange shell that has micro crystals of citric acid creating a pop of bright citrus flavor that elevates the entire experience. 

The collection is brought to life by Kendra Dandy, the Philadelphia-based artist and illustrator commissioned by Seattle Chocolate to design the bright, colorful custom packaging. While her cheetah print can be seen across brands including Athleta, her work for this collection also features bright colors with a playful and sassy design seeming to put the woman at the center. A perfect collaboration with the woman-powered Seattle Chocolate Company and a “strong woman [artist] with something to say”!

Which flavor will make you feel the elation of hearing that ice cream truck coming down your street?

Here’s the scoop about Seattle Chocolate Company Summer Scoop collection launching today, June 2:

The collection will be available for nationwide shipping (and available on ShareASale, Skimlinks and Viglink). 

• 2.5 oz truffle bar flavors ($4.75/bar): 
  • Mint Chip (a green double distilled mint center with micro chocolate chips encased in a layer of 60 percent dark chocolate) 
  • Neapolitan (a three-layered bar featuring 60% dark chocolate, 30% cacao white chocolate, and strawberry white chocolate)
  • Vanilla Orange Cream (an orange-infused white chocolate center with a naturally-colored orange shell)

• Two-bite truffle flavors ($22/12 oz bag): 
  • Mint Chip (a green double distilled mint center with micro chocolate chips enrobed in a layer of 60 percent dark chocolate) 
  • Malted Milk Ball (milk chocolate with a creamy malted milk center and malt bits)
  • Vanilla Orange Cream (an orange-infused white chocolate center with a naturally-colored orange shell)
• Gifts: 
  • Truffle Pints (inspired by classic ice cream pints and available in all three truffle flavors; $12/4.5oz pint)
  • Truffles on Top Bag (12oz sampling of Mint Chip truffles along with mainstay favorites including Salted Almond, San Juan Sea Salt, Peanut Butter and Champagne; $22)
  • Summer Scoops Truffle Bar Trio (all three new truffle bar flavors; $17.50)
  • Everything But The Cone Care Package (all three new truffle bar flavors, Truffles on Top Bag, and limited-edition postcard designed by Kendra Dandy; $42)
  • Summer Scoops Care Package (all three truffle bar flavors, all three truffle pints, and postcard; $50)