Askinosie Chocolate — Restaurant in Springfield

🍫 Askinosie Chocolate — A Springfield Shop Full of Heart and Flavor

Every time we visit Springfield, stopping by Askinosie Chocolate is a must. It’s more than a chocolate shop — it’s a place of discovery, generosity, and beautifully crafted bean-to-bar chocolate. We love sampling their bars, picking out holiday gifts, and bringing home treats for friends and family. Their packaging is thoughtful and gorgeous; the staff always does a wonderful job wrapping treats in gift bags that feel genuinely special.

History & Concept: • Founded in 2007 by Shawn Askinosie, who left a 20-year law career to start making chocolate in Springfield.  • Askinosie practices direct trade, sourcing cocoa beans directly from farmers in places like Ecuador, Tanzania, the Philippines, and more — offering fair pay and long-term partnerships.  • They run a “Stake in the Outcome” philosophy: profits are shared with farmers to reward quality and build community.  • They also run a Chocolate University program, helping local and global students learn about sustainability, business, and cacao farming. 

Why We Keep Coming Back: • Their tasting bar is so fun — we love sampling new single origin flavors before buying. • The gift options are perfect when we don’t know what to buy someone: chocolate bars, tasting kits, holiday packs — people love receiving them. • Their chocolate has won major accolades, and they’re respected for both quality and ethics. 

Askinosie doesn’t just make chocolate — they make something that brings joy and meaning. If you want a gift with heart, or just want to treat yourself to something real, this is...

“It’s not about the chocolate. It’s about the chocolate.“ That adage, often recited by the 20 or so employees of what is quite likely the first bean-to-bar chocolatier in the country, attests to the values that are anything but small in impact.

The small-batch manufacturer was selected as one of the top 25 small businesses in America, according to Forbes. Proceeds from regular facility tours and other endeavors support Chocolate University, an initiative to support communities from C-Street and beyond. The direct-trade model works intimately with farmers across the globe and profit-shares annually to provide them with living wages.

The product quality goes beyond only the cocoa. The chocolate contains absolutely no soy lecithin. Most ingredients come from vendors with organic practices, if not outright labeled as such, and meticulous attention is given to provide transparency about product sources.

Whether visiting the company firsthand, buying products from another retailer, or enjoying them as ingredients, Askinosie is...

Askinosie is the absolute best chocolate we have ever had, and we've eaten a lot of high quality chocolate! Our favorites are the 88% super dark blend and the 77% Davao, Philippines bar. The flavor and texture is smoother than any other chocolate we have had. Most bars with this high of cocoa are not smooth and silky. The flavor is so amazing you only need to eat 1 or 2 squares. We also love the 72% Mababu, Tanzania and 70% Ecuador bars. Every one is so unique and every bar we have tried we have thorougly enjoyed.

After trying one bar while on a trip, we loved it so much we setup a mail-order subscription through their website. We order a box of bars to be shipped every 2-3 months - it's really easy to setup and adjust the frequency. Every aspect of this company is outstanding - their customer service is 10 stars, their thoughtful and careful packaging (including an ice pack & lots of insulation for the summer), their chocolate packaging, and of course...