Frequently Asked Questions

Is your dark chocolate dairy free and/or vegan?

Our dark chocolate that we use for most of our confections does contain trace elements of dairy. It has to be declared on the labeling as an ingredient (milk fat) due to shared common equipment at our chocolate supplier. 

It is entirely a personal choice as to what level of tolerance you may have for trace amounts of dairy, based on allergy or dietary preference. 

Our 80% Extra Dark chocolate is completely dairy free, and does not cannot any trace amounts of dairy. We currently only offer these as 3 oz bars or in various holiday moulds. 

We may offer seasonal vegan confections throughout the year based on demand/request

Are you related to Mitchell’s Ice Cream?

We are not! We started in Cleveland Heights in 1939, and the Mitchell’s Brothers Ice Cream started in 1999 in Westlake. We both just happened to be called Mitchell’s and satisfy Cleveland’s sweet tooth. 

Are your chocolates gluten free?

We are not a gluten-free facility, but the majority of our confections are gluten free. The only items that should be avoided are the pretzels (all varieties), graham crackers, and malted milk balls.

There are some holiday/seasonal confections that may contain gluten (like our Speculoos Praline at Christmas), but that will be declared on any packaging. 

I have a nut allergy, can I eat some of your chocolates?

We are not a nut-free facility, and do our best to maintain sanitation protocols to reduce cross-contamination. 

We handle tree nuts (Almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, pecans, hazelnuts, English walnuts and black walnuts), as well as peanuts (roasted peanuts, peanut butter sugar candy, and Buckeye base). 

Select nuts that we manufacture come to us roasted in highly refined peanut oil. According to research, this does not pose a threat to peanut allergic consumers, as the refining process removes the offending protein that causes an allergic reaction.

Are your chocolates kosher?

We are not a certified kosher facility, but many of our ingredients and suppliers are kosher. We do not process any meat of any kind at our facility, and the only dairy we handle is milk chocolate, heavy cream, and butter.

Our supplier of panned goods (malted milk balls, cordials, some truffles, etc) is kosher, and we do not manipulate the product in any way prior to sale. If you have further questions/concerns, please let us know!

Do you offer sugar free chocolates?

In the past, there was not enough interest in sugar-free confections, and frankly – the sugar-free chocolate of 1990-2015 tasted pretty terrible. Luckily some of our chocolate suppliers are working increasing distribution of some new chocolate sweetened with erythritol or stevia, which have a better flavor profile.

We are still working on some research and development of our own line of better-for-you confections, but in the meantime, we offer sugar-free dark chocolate almonds

Do you ship your chocolates? 

Yes! We ship only via UPS, Monday through Thursday. When shipping to warm weather climates (any location >60F), we will use a low-moisture ice pack and a cool pack liner to prevent any heat from melting your chocolates. All information regarding shipping can be found here

If you live in the Greater Cleveland area, we offer local delivery on certain days of the week. 

What’s the difference between the deluxe assortment and the general assortment?

The General Assortment offers a variety of chewies (caramels, toffees, honeycomb chips), chocolate covered nuts, fruits, and fondant creams. Our Deluxe assortment includes all of those, PLUS truffles, marzipan, ginger and apricots.

What is truffle? I thought those grew in the forest and were hunted by pigs

It is a blend of chocolate, cream and butter. This allows the center to be a soft chocolate consistency, and adds full fat dairy flavor to create a sweet and smooth mouthfeel. 

Chocolate truffles get their name from the prized culinary truffle because their hand-rolled shape and dusted exterior resemble the earthy fungus. While one grows underground and the other is crafted in kitchens, both are symbols of indulgence, rarity, and decadence in the culinary world.

Do you make everything in-house?

We make a majority of our confections right here in Cleveland Heights, but there are some confections that require highly specific machinery that we do not have. We make about 85% of the confections that you've come to love, but items like jelly beans, gummy bears, and some panned items are purchased from our wholesale partners. 

How long do your chocolate stay fresh? 

Most of our confections are designed for a minimum freshness of 120 days (4 months) Our truffles and Buckeyes, which contain dairy, should be consumed within 90 days. Some items that are more simple (just nuts & chocolate – almond bark, etc) are perfectly stable for 6 months or longer. Solid chocolate pieces and bars are best consumed within a year. Most of our product do have a "best by" sticker with a marked date based on production, please refer to this date for guidance. Even past this date, chocolate is perfectly acceptable to ingest, but it may be a drier texture or duller flavor than at peak freshness.

How should I store your chocolates?

Chocolate is sensitive to heat, humidity, and strong smells — store it in a cool, dry place to preserve its smooth texture and rich flavor. Refrigeration should only be used as a last resort, as condensation can cause blooming. Ideal is around 65-70 Fahrenheit, and away from direct sunlight.