Kakao chocolate, a new shop in downtown Clayton, has earned my A rating. From the location to the chocolate itself, this store by far exceeds anyone’s expectation.

Located in downtown Clayton, in the same row of shops as Pastaria, it’s convenient to stop by Kakao in hopes of a cocoa delight. The store is not exactly new to St. Louis; it’s been a favorite for a while, but the recent addition to Clayton is certainly a good decision. Now, there’s no more stops to Whole Foods or driving all the way to Maplewood just to get Kakao’s delicious treats.

The St. Louis based company also partners with other local businesses, including Missouri honey, jam and more. . Brian Pelletier started the shop on Cherokee Street but since has expanded to sell his creations to other places in St. Louis.

The service is excellent as well. The staff was informed about their product and believed in the company’s mission, giving me the impression that this place actually cares and communicates with their employees. That hooked me at once.

But, what’s a shop without its products? Kakao is a chocolate lover’s paradise. You can find all sorts of organic and fair trade chocolate, chocolate bark, chocolate covered caramels, even extending to cocoa lotion and chapstick. And the taste of all this? Delicious.

I tried several chocolate barks that Kakao offers. From the Mexican bark, a cinnamon, chili powder and dark chocolate mix, to the sea salt bark, although all were good, my ultimate favorite was a thin milk chocolate bark coated with coffee granules. The way the coffee subtly complemented the rich milk chocolate gave this bark a certain “addictive” quality.

Aside from barks, I also tried some chocolate bars. All three, milk, dark, and white chocolates were nice. They were not overly sweet and yet had the rich, creamy component which makes chocolate so pleasing.

Kakao’s new Clayton location is surely one to be checked out. The chocolate is delicious, the location is convenient, the service is superb, and the local and natural aspect of the products make the store a great addition to the Clayton business scene.