Cacao & Cardamom Chocolatier — Restaurant in Houston

Buying the chocolates were ok from the website and was always an advocate for this business until I corresponded with the owner via email and asked for a custom order. She sent the order and was cooperative at first and helpful but was surprised that the box of chocolates arrived prior to receiving a detailed invoice ( price of chocolates+tax+shipping). Anyone in my shoes would be confused due to the reversed steps of how the purchase went down. I thanked the owner for her cooperation and how much I appreciate the unique flavors she makes along with sending in the payment via the portal she sent but had noted that I was confused of how the transaction went down. I asked her to explain how the process looks like when ordering via email as it would help to know this for future transactions. Her responses were very dry and lacked compassion as she was confused why I was confused and when I tried to understand the final pricing (given that I was never sent a full invoice prior to ordering), she said that the transaction was a mistake and that she will never do that again and my order should only go through the portal (assuming I will order again after this treatment). My big issue with this was how I was treated when I was corresponding with her with a genuine question and a kind tone along with much praise. I was disheartened that a business I believed in and advocated for to my family and friends and spent so much money on despite being on a teacher salary, was ready to let go of a customer that fast even after sending her emails thanking her for the flavors she brings forth to customers. I even was in disbelief that the owner was the one responding to my emails. I still gave her the benefit of the doubt until I called the store to get owners attention to this, only to find out the the owner is the only one responding to the email as the employee stated on the phone. I have found cheaper prices with another vendor with the same quality of chocolates and better customer service aspect. I believe that small businesses only thrive from good customer service to the community members who support the place. Without that “people” aspect, I am better spending my money else where.

Response to your reply: thank you for responding the way you did. I think that gets my point across. Hence...

I got a Cacao & Cardamon box of chocolates as a gift and to be honest I'm not impressed by these chocolates at all. I will tell you what the good things were before I tell you from my point of view what's lacking.

The pros:

The presentation is beautifully put together, I give them an A+ for that, hands down. The actual bonbons look beautiful, they have super cool molds, shapes, and the coloring of the chocolates is super pro, also the chocolate bar that came with the shipment was beautiful, packaging, everything.

The cons:

This is where the chocolates fall flat for me. I'm a chocolate freak, I have tasted chocolates from all over the world, and I can humbly say that I have a rather well developed palate when it comes to chocolates, like a wine enthusiast. The flavors are overpowering, overly sweet, they left an unpleasant aftertaste as well. I feel the quality of chocolate they use is not the highest. I can taste that they use chef's chocolate (couverture), but it tastes way too commercial for me, and less artisanal as advertised. I guess there's a crowd for this but it's not me. There's one particular flavor that was the least sophisticated for me, and that was the cookies and cream bonbon, which taste straight up like eating an oreo cookie with cheap chocolate. I might as well just eat an oreo cookie dipped in melted Lindt chocolate.

To resume my review. Cacao & Cardamom lures you in with the beautiful colors, packaging, and great marketing, but when we get down to the business of really enjoying high quality chocolate they truly disappoint. BTW, the two stars are for the...

This chocolatier is amazing. It has a fabulous decorative selection of bonbons, truffles, and gelato.

The chocolates are so fancy they actually look like ornaments. Almost too pretty to eat.

Of course you can build a box of chocolates. They have some quirky items as well, like chocolate lipstick and chocolate heels.

They also carry gelato by SweetCup Gelato & Sorbet, a local business in Houston. Tried the Cardamom Rose. OMG! It was so good, I was confused. My taste buds had never been to this new realm of gastronomy.

Customer service was good. The team seems knowledgeable and genuinely enthusiastic about their craft.

Seating is limited. Only two tables inside and a couple outside.

If you’re like me and like cinnamon in your chocolate, I highly recommend the Speculoos. It was so good they should really consider changing the name to spectacular.

This confectionery was a great find. If Usher were to discover it, and had one of the Speculoos, I’m sure he would be inspired to remix his summer 2004 hit Confessions part 2.

I think it would go something like this.

“These are my confections. Just when I thought I tasted all I could taste. There was a chocolatier I discovered today. These are my confections. Man I’m throwed and I don’t know what to do. I guess I gotta get two scoops due to my obsession. If I’m going to sample I have to sample it all. Damn near cried when I saw the chocolate waterfall. I’m so throwed and I don’t know what to do. But to give you part 3 of my confessions. Do do do do do do do do do...