Confections of a Chocolate Lover

Martinique is rightfully famous for its rhum agricole, but I’m a fan of something sweeter: the diminutive delectables at chocolatiers Freres Lauzea.

Award-winning chocolate maker Thierry Lauzea and his brother opened their Lamentin store nine years ago, and its been drawing chocaholics ever since. Who can resist the ganache-based dark-, white- and milk-chocolate treats, all made by hand in the painstaking French tradition and filled with fresh flavors that are distinctly Caribbean. There’s passionfruit, basil, guava and ginger, but I’m particularly excited about the sweet potato and tamarind flavors in the works!

Freres Lauzea also offers a wide selection of fruit jellies, displayed in glass cases like a rainbow of sugar-dusted gems. Papaya, lychee, mango, banana … you’ll find it hard to choose just one. Even Thierry can’t. “That’s like asking me to choose my favorite child,” he says. “I love them all.” So why not yield to temptation and buy a box of assorted chocolates and jellies? Then you can share them with friends. Or not.