If you have a sweet tooth, this month is for you. Did you know that the month of July is filled with delicious, decadent National and International Days? Yes, that’s right.
Not only is July 7th World Chocolate Day, but July is also National Ice Cream Month. And, to make things even sweeter, on July 18th, you can celebrate National Ice Cream Day.
With that in mind, I shared a post on NewsBreak yesterday very similar to this. But, I felt that I didn’t share the entire experience or as many photos as I would have liked to. So, today I am sharing an expanded version of the original post, Fannie May: A Chocolate Lover’s Dream for World Chocolate Day.
While Fannie May stores can be found all across the United States, we are only going to zero in on these mouth watering chocolates from Fannie May located at 402 S Neil St. #5218 in Champaign, IL.
My time spent there was about 20 minutes right after work. What was cute and coincidental was that I just happened to be wearing the company’s colors; red and white. How could I not show this?
Located in Champaign, Originated in Chicago
Fannie May sells handcrafted chocolates that are made with only the finest ingredients from around the world. If you read about the history and the story of Fannie May, you will come to learn that the first Fannie May store was started in 1920 in Chicago, IL. also known as the Windy City.
In fact, when you are browsing through the store, you will see a variety of souvenir style candies including chocolate bars and candy tins, just to name a few.
Clean, Bright, and Welcoming Store
This trip was my first time at this location. Although I have passed it on numerous occasions, I simply never made the time to stop until now. When I walked in, the store was so bright and clean with a large selection of chocolate displayed neatly throughout the store.
There was also a nice, black and white photo essay that spread across the walls of the store covering the story and history of Fannie May.
When Fannie May stores began, they only opened up with a handful of confections. Today, however, Fannie May makes over 100 different confections and is always working towards more.
Over 100 Different Confections Available
After browsing, I decided upon three treats from the chocolate counter, which included the Milk Chocolate Marshmallow Square with Nuts, a Dark Chocolate Raspberry Creme, and a Dark Chocolate Pixie. These were not priced individually. Instead the price was based on weight.
If you do not feel comfortable purchasing various amounts of chocolates based on weight, there is a variety of packaged chocolates available at various price points. The three chocolates that I chose totaled about $8.
Milk Chocolate Marshmallow Square with Nuts
The Milk Chocolate Marshmallow Square with Nuts was the largest and weighed the most. It was a bit larger than a square; more like the size of a rectangle. The chocolate melted immediately in your mouth, right along with the marshmallow. The nuts topped it off with a nice crunch. If you enjoy marshmallows with your chocolate, this is sure to please your taste buds.
Dark Chocolate Raspberry Creme
The Dark Chocolate Raspberry Creme was the smallest and I’m sure weighed the least. The raspberry creme was thick, tasty, and flavorful. You could also smell the aroma of the dark chocolate. Being able to choose my flavor of chocolates brings me joy.
Dark Chocolate Pixies
The final chocolate that I enjoyed on this visit was a Dark Chocolate Pixie. Pixies were created in 1946 and are a Fannie May classic.
If we were comparing sizes, this confection would fall in the middle of the two previously mentioned. The outer shell is a delicious chocolate with the inside being a nice blend of hand-poured caramel and lightly roasted pecans.
Final Thoughts
While I would love to have a favorite to share, I don’t. Each confection was delicious in its own unique way. Lastly, with this being about World Chocolate Day, I want to stay focused on the chocolates, but I do want to note that there are other non-chocolate items available such as delicious looking cashews, water bottles, etc.
If you are thinking of ways to still celebrate, buy a few treats and enjoy them with your friends and family. And, even if they live far away, a treat via snail mail is always a hit. Just be mindful of the packing due to the hot weather.
Which chocolate would be your favorite? Feel free to comment below.
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