Intrigue Chocolate Co.

This place is AHMAZING! We had a cold brew coffee that was a mix of coffee and cacao beans and tried 4 different truffle pairings. The earl grey truffle is delicious and probably my favorite, but the basil truffle is unlike anything I have tried before. Needless to say I got a couple of each to go

This small Pioneer Square chocolate shop is a bit off the beaten path, but worth hunting down if you like free samples, tasty truffles, and cool wall art!
It was a little early in the day when we walked in, but I wasn’t going to say no when they offered a free chocolate tasting. They have it set up in a fancy wooden case and take you through a rotating selection of five flavors, explaining what makes each one special and what you’re tasting. They offer a small cup of tea to cleanse your palate between samples, too. We really liked the orange and peppercorn truffle, which had a bit of a kick, and the loomi truffle, made with dried limes, which had a strong, bright citrusy flavor.
You can buy small $ 2 truffles individually, or a box of 12 for $ 22. They also sell $ 9 bars, which are relatively big — the same amount of chocolate as maybe 5 – 6 truffles, so it’s a better value if you want just one flavor. They have a rotating list of truffles on any given day and they encourage you to check their Twitter feed for the day’s flavors if you have your heart set on something in particular.
The store also carries coffee beans, cacao nibs, flavored sugars, loose leaf tea, hot chocolate mix, and chocolate bars from other brands. You could easily put together a very nice gift basket here for a hostess gift or your favorite chocolate lover!
My other favorite part of the shop was the Instagram tile art wall. Most of the back wall is covered with a mosaic of photos mounted on small wooden squares, depicting a variety of Seattle landmarks, Washington-​themed images, or just fun and colorful photos. For a $ 3 charitable donation, you can take home the tile of your choice. I saw one of a local character, a guy who wears a coonskin cap and furry vest and has a long-​haired shoulder cat, and knew it had to be mine. These would make a great Seattle souvenir and are worth a stop just by themselves!
Sure, it can get a little spendy once you start picking out tiny truffles and fancy beverages, but if you’re looking for a fun experience and unique flavors you might not find anywhere else (prune chocolate, anyone?), you’ll find this shop quite intriguing.

This is a seriously classy chocolatier! So fancy!
The service was warm and friendly. I was immediately informed that they are currently offering tastings. This sounded great so I said yes please! He gave me five different samples. I enjoyed them all, but I think my favorite was the Ginger.
When it came to purchasing, I deciding to pick something I hadn’t tried. One Cardamom and one Toasted Sesame. The truffles are $ 2 each, but make sure you use your Unilocal check-​in to get one truffle free.
Between the two Cardamom was my favorite as it burst with a little more flavor. But I also might be bias as that is totally my kinda thing!

Tiny little morsels of truffle heaven created by a passionate chocolatier! Located on the edge of Pioneer Square next to Sarbucks (unfortunately…). They aren’t allowed to sell coffee to go for that reason, not cool Starbucks… not cool! The chocolates here are the ganache centers of the truffles without the hard shells; therefore, they have to be individually wrapped. Each square melts in your mouth and you’re filled with the deep chocolate mouthfeel mixed with their subtle handcrafted flavors. Irish coffee is actually made with Jameson liquor! Each truffle is $ 2. They also sell unique hot chocolates (that you can actually to go).

A tiny local shop making the most of a so-​so location and serving an amazing selection of heavenly chocolate ganache truffles (with the all natural flavors mostly dusted on the outside), along with great chocolate drinks and a nice (but small) selection of some great craft chocolate bars. Who could ask for more? How about a friendly and warm staff that will accommodate your requests as well. Yep, they have that too.
This place is worth a visit. In fact, it’s worth seeking out – which you will probably have to do because of the wonky location in an area where parking is a joke. But your efforts will be rewarded.
Once in the shop, life slows. Your taste buds can be coated by the smooth ganache truffles (this is the stuff that’s inside the hard chocolate covered truffles you may be used to eating). The playful and creative blends of flavors are exceptionally executed. In the hands of others, these flavor combos might be absurd and overpowering. Not so here.
The drinking chocolate also offers amazing flavors (I had lavender), and they can be made with water instead of milk if you prefer.
All the ingredients, from truffles to drinks, are top quality.
Make the trip. Your mouth and psyche will thank you.

I have a friend who looooooves chocolate. Obviously, when I see a chocolate shop in a new city, I stop by to get my friend gifts. Obviously, I needed to stop at intrigue because it was rated so highly on Unilocal.The only problem was that I literally had 3 minutes before I was getting picked up.
I ran in and asked the girl working behind the counter what her favorite product was. She explained that Intrigue is known for their truffles, but that she really liked the hot cocoa mix. I thought hot chocolate mix might be a nice change, so I scanned the display. There were different flavors, including vanilla and lavender. The workers and I had a pretty lengthy discussion about the lavender flavored hot chocolate. I’m not particularly a fan, but they both were and strongly recommended it. Unfortunately, I didn’t know if the person I was buying for liked lavender, so I stuck with the vanilla to be safe.
The girl working at the cash register was kind enough to package my present with a rubber band so that there wouldn’t be accidents on the plane. Very nice!
The chocolates are s little pricey here, but everything is packaged very nicely and I’m sure the quality is great. I would definitely come back to buy gifts here.

Based on the glowing Unilocal reviews I’ve read, I’m not in the majority unfortunately. Intrigue was at the top of my list for must visits on my last Seattle trip. I appreciated the free truffle with Unilocal check in (score!) and I adore the Pioneer Square neighborhood, but I didn’t love their truffles like I thought I would.
The store wasn’t too busy when I walked in but there was a group doing a chocolate tasting so I had to wait a little bit since there was only one person behind the counter. No big deal, it gave me a minute to peruse the truffle flavors and the cool art wall (for a $ 3 donation you can choose any photo on the wall, which makes for a great souvenir). After the tasting was done, I decided I wanted a box of truffles and had a few questions about some of the flavors. Although the person that helped me wasn’t rude in any way, she seemed a little overwhelmed since other customers were coming in and she was still the only one behind the counter. I found myself choosing flavors quickly because I felt kinda rushed like I was taking up too much of her time.
On to the chocolate. I got a variety of flavors (rum raisin, raspberry liquor, coconut hibiscus, Jamaican hot chocolate, mocha, etc.) and I have tried at least half of them and… they all taste very similar. The flavors were so subtle, almost too subtle for my taste. The quality of the chocolate and cocoa used are top notch and I would still recommend them, but I think I was expecting more of a punch of flavor in at least some of them.

Wow! I’m a snob with food in general and I don’t mean to be. I guess I should feel grateful being around good food and living in cities with good restaurants because once the conditions changed I didn’t realize that my expectations were so high!
Since I moved to Washington I have a handful of favorite chocolate shops in the state. They are scattered everywhere. A few in Olympia, one in Bellevue, one in Leavenworth and one in Poulsbo. I was waiting to find a good chocolate shop in Seattle and to add another favorite to my list! It seems like I have found that very place at Intrigue!
Here they rotate out their small batches of chocolate flavors often so there is always new selections pick from which means more visits!
On my first visit here I got all kinds of different kinds of chocolate. Let me see. Lavender Lemonade, a chai chocolate, Cardamon, Jamaican Hot Chocolate, A chile flavored chocolate and a basil infused chocolate among others.
We really stocked up on our supply but it didn’t stay long in the house with the delicious truffles. We are working on the chocolate bar now… that is all that is left!
Delicious and amazing chocolate!
Here is a tip too! If you check in using the Unilocal app a coupon is offered here for one free truffle. Trust me, it’s worth it!

Holy smokes, eating the truffles here have ruined me forever. The lavender and lemon, basil, Jamaican hot… Omg so amazing. Get the sampler. You will not be dissapointed.

A little goes a long way.
Tucked away all cozy in Pioneer square is this little chocolate shop that makes quite the unique mix of chocolates. Don’t expect overpowering flavors here, everything is on a much more subtle level. They let the chocolate do the talking!
I had a chance to try every piece and slowly, like a really good wine the flavors would roll out towards the end.
The chocolates tend to lean more on the pricey side, however I think one tends to savor the flavor all the better.

Delicious chocolates that come in widely unique flavors. They give out free samples, and they serve hot chocolate as well. The shop is small, but very artsy and fun to explore. They have tile art on the walls. Very cool concept.

We stopped here on the way to the train station. S spontaneous sell my boyfriend and I couldn’t pass up! Coconut mocha, rosemary, basil, sage, sea salt chocolates. We had some samples. Great subtle rich flavors! Yum!

Craft chocolate movement in full force. Aaron, the owner, is not only passionate about his work but also super informative and approachable. I’m very glad we randomly stopped by thanks to the raving Unilocal reviews because the experience was on par with the chocolate.
Here’s what your trip to Intrigue will likely look like.
1) First, you will be enamored by the Instagram tile art wall. For a donation of $ 3+, you can take the tile that speaks to you and keep the art wall alive. Great idea.
2) Then, you will proceed to do a free chocolate tasting. You will not only feel cultured, but your taste buds will also come alive.
3) Following, you will have to order the lavender hot cocoa and even though it takes awhile to make (or, the more appropriate verbiage is «concoct»), it doesn’t matter because it’s rich and amazing and potentially life changing.
4) Then you and your group will likely converse with Aaron and other patrons, and you will feel educated in an engaging, small-​group discussion kind of way.
5) Finally, you will have to buy some truffles either for yourself or to bring home to family and friends. I recommend the lavender but that was only available in bar form when I visited, so I opted for the 12-​mini sampler. Would love to try their green tea truffle if and when it is available again.

Unique, local, fresh, supporting and giving back to the community.
Great, unique flavors every time you come in. Some of the flavors are so subtle that I have trouble picking them out and some are knock you over the head strong as soon as you smell the truffle. It’s always fun to see what they’ve come up with. My favorite new one was the lemon verbena that they made a batch of because someone brought them a bunch of lemon verbena from their garden — that’s just… awesome.
Go in and do a tasting, preferably on a weekday when they aren’t super-​crowded. You’ll get to taste at least 5 very unique flavors and a few extras if you haven’t had their flagship flavors before.
The $ 3 art wall was a surprise and delight. Benefiting homeless youth, there are lots of unique photos from around Seattle, and the downtown area in particular. You are encouraged to pick up a photo block to take with you for $ 3 (or more). What a great way to showcase the area, support the community, and connect with people.

Intrigue is a very apt description for the chocolate here. All of the flavors are very unique and potent. The flavors include basil, mojito, chipotle-​lime, and scotch whiskey among many others. I wish I could have tried them all!
PS. Don’t forget to check in to get a free truffle with any purchase!

Who would have known that a place like Intrigue Chocolate Co. would have existed in the outskirts of Pioneer Square?
As we looked around, someone from Intrigue offered us some free tastings. But this wasn’t just any tasting. It was one chocolate after the other — rich, sweet, savory, herby. We ended up trying six or so flavors. There were a couple of flavors that we were completely blown away by, and decided to get some to take home…
–Basil: For anyone that loves basil-​infused desserts (me! me!). The marriage of basil and chocolate is a wonderful thing.
–Jamaican Hot Chocolate: A complex mix of flavors — from honey to rum to habanero chilis. A small kick with the most fragrant of after tastes. Deliriously good.
–Mocha: Sweet, deep and creamy.
This place is not hype — Intrigue definitely deserves these rave reviews. So, so gooood.

Walking through Pioneer Square craving hot chocolate, I found this place where else but Unilocal.The store is very nice inside with a cooler for truffles and some of their powdered cocoa mixes and coffee beans on the wall. Turns out they just started selling hot chocolate and this was their second day. The choices were vanilla bean, Jamaican and lavender. I went with the vanilla bean. They put a lot of care in preparing the hot chocolate, weighing the cocoa power, melting it in water, then adding the milk on a stove top. The cocoa is topped with cardamon whipped cream. Much better than Starbucks next door.
The sign on the wall said ask us about our chocolate tasting, so I did. They pulled out a box of 5 samples, each unique and flavorful. The ones I remember were mocha, basil, peppercorn, black tea, According to the woman giving the tasting, they don’t actually make the chocolate. They purchase the dark chocolate then infuse the milk/​crème to give the truffles their flavor.
For under $ 5 you get a tasty hot chocolate and a 5 truffle tasting. Free art with pictures of Pioneer Square are up on the wall with optional donation. Very nice touch to make this a memorable trip!

I was craving chocolate pretty badly, so my friend and I decided to walk into Intrigue since it was right there. We realized there was a Unilocal deal, so we bought two truffles and got one free :)
It was empty when we walked in, so the person there (I forgot his name…) was really friendly and gave us suggestions.
I’m not used to paying a lot for chocolate, but these truffles were GOOD. Lime Cilantro was tasty and smooth, but the ones that really stood out were the ones with alcohol… Apple Brandy and some other bourbon one had some surprisingly strong flavor. I kind of wish I’d bought a truffle bar now, so I’ll probably go back at some point!

There are no excuses now to not go check out Intrigue! They recently opened up a storefront in Pioneer Square, a few doors down from Zeitgeist Coffee. No more walking up stairs. Just step right and try not to drool at the tasting bar as Master Chocolatier Aaron demos the art of making some fine chocolate concoctions.
The shop is cozy and bright. There is a tasting bar and the truffles are displayed in a nice glass case.
My favorite addition is the photo block wall. Photos from around Pioneer Square and Seattle in general are printed on little wooden square blocks. They are free (yes, F-​R-​E-​E) for the taking, but of course a small donation is acceptable. The photos are taken from Instagram users who tag Intrigue (intrigue_​chocolate_​co) to show off their best shots. It’s a nice touch to show their community spirit.

When I arrived at Intrigue Chocolates, the rush/​crowd just left and my friend and I had a very intimate and fab experience. We saw Aaron working his magic in the background while Justin P. assisted us. The one on one experience was great. We were able to sample a ton of the truffles in a peaceful & calming manner and learned a bit more about their artisan chocolates.
I love the chocolates here because they use dark chocolate (my favorite!) and the products aren’t too sweet! Winner winner here! Their truffle flavors are rotated throughout the year. The flavors are authentic and you can tell a lot of heart, time, and thought was used in making and creating the truffles/​flavors. Notable favorites include: everything bagel, basil, grains of paradise, and jasmine green tea. They’re all good! Holy moly, it might seem gross to have an Everything Bagel flavored chocolate but Intrigue Chocolate’s was amazing. You’re literally eating a real Everything Bagel. From the layer of garlic down to the onion, Intrigue Chocolate had it down to the T. If I could only sandwich some cream cheese in between 2 of these babies, it’d be like eating a bite sized everything bagel. I was craving an everything bagel afterwards!
What better souvenirs to bring home from Seattle than Intrigue Chocolate Co. chocolates?! Gorgeous, thoughtful and minimalistic packaging. My truffles were still delicious and in perfect condition even a week later!
Parking can be a hassle here. Your best bet might be the local parking lot next to the 2 wooden totem poles a few streets down (I think S Washington St & Occidental Ave S).

We went there for a chocolate tasting, and the flavors were mind-​blowing. Basil, peppercorn, whiskey, rosemary, maple & sea salt… the flavors really shone through the chocolate. Subtle, but refreshing and fun to eat.
The owner Aaron was very generous in letting us try his various flavors, and patient in describing the flavors and sources of inspiration. He was genuinely passionate about chocolate and was very fun to talk to. We bought a 12-​piece set of truffles for $ 20 each, which came in a flight-​ready cooler bag. Would have liked to try the hot chocolate flavors though!