Hazel Mountain Chocolate

Hazel Mountain Chocolate is a family-run bean-to-bar chocolate maker at Oughtmama, near Bell Harbour in County Clare, set between Galway Bay and the Burren hills along the Wild Atlantic Way. Founded by Kasha and John Connolly, it is one of the few producers in Ireland to import raw cacao and carry out the whole process on site, from roasting the beans to crafting the finished bars.

The chocolate is made in small batches, with beans sourced through direct relationships with growers and co-operatives in countries including Madagascar, Venezuela, Mexico, Costa Rica and Cuba. The beans are roasted, hand-cracked and stone-ground over a couple of days, then the chocolate is aged for around three weeks before it goes on sale. The range takes in dark, milk and vegan chocolate, hand-finished truffles and hot chocolate, and the work has been recognised with honours from the Academy of Chocolate and the Great Taste Awards.

Alongside the factory there is a shop and café, where visitors can watch chocolatiers at work and sample what is made on the premises. The café, led by trained chocolatier and baker Kasha Connolly, serves coffee, signature hot chocolate and freshly baked cakes and pastries, with gluten-free and dairy-free options among them. Its rural Burren setting makes it an easy stop for anyone exploring this part of Clare.