Theo Chocolate Factory Tour- The Adventuring Millennial

Every time I walked around Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood, I knew I could smell chocolate in the air. Before I’d convinced myself I was making it up, I realized that Fremont is home to the Theo Chocolate factory.

After living in Seattle for a few months I was familiar with Theo. You can find their chocolate in grocery stores and local bakeries.

My favorite Seattle cookie (the Mackles’more) even has a piece of Theo Chocolate on top. By the way- that cookie is sold at Hello Robin. And you should absolutely stop by there when you are in town! If you are interested in even more Seattle desserts, check out this post.

Once I learned that Theo offered chocolate factory tours I knew I had to take one. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect (cue images of Willy Wonka) but I love chocolate, so I figured I would LOVE the tour. And I was right.

Anyone visiting the Emerald City should add this to their itinerary. The tour costs $12 per person and lasts just over an hour. Theo is located in the heart of Fremont, so you could easily combine this with a visit to the Fremont Troll, Gas Works Park, or one of the many dining options along 36th Street (like this taco place or this ramen place).

The Basics

The Theo Chocolate factory tour can be booked online or in person. I suggest booking ahead of time because the tours frequently sell out. Groups of 6 or more must pay in advance, but otherwise, you can sign up online and pay once you arrive for your tour.

Tours are only available for those 6 years and older. But, younger guests are welcome to attend the weekly Kid’s Chocolate Story Time Tour. This tour costs $8 per person and can also be booked online. This 45-min tour includes a kid-friendly tour, storytime, and of course- chocolate samples.

What to Expect

I booked a 10:30 am Saturday tour and arrived a few minutes early. There was plenty of free 2-hour parking on the surrounding streets. The tour guide greeted our group in the factory’s lobby. We then found seats in an appropriately decorated room. Think cocoa leaves, images of Theo Chocolate employees, and signs about the chocolate-making process.

During the first half of the tour, we listened to the tour guide discussed the Theo chocolate-making process. Theo is a “bean to bar” company. So, they receive cocoa beans and turn them into chocolate bars.

Many other companies start with imported chocolate liquor (no- this is not alcoholic) instead of the beans. After a multi-step process, cocoa beans form a pure cocoa product called chocolate liquor. To create a chocolate bar, you mix this liquor with sugar, vanilla, and flavorings.

This is a very important factor that helps Theo Chocolate stand out. They were also the first certified organic and Fair Trade chocolate maker in North America. Theo respects the environment and the people who make this process possible, while also committing to producing a high-quality product.

And the best part? We got multiple Theo Chocolate samples. We started with my favorite, 85% dark chocolate. But we also sampled coconut, cherry, milk, and root beer chocolate bars.

After answering all of our questions the tour guide led us to the observation room. Here we could actually see the machines that produce the delicious chocolate. We saw the bean room where cocoa beans are stored in burlap bags. The guide walked us through the process of making chocolate and explained the importance of each machine. Until the tour, I didn’t realize that cocoa beans were roasted. But now I know this helps develop the flavor. Pretty neat!

In this room, we got a few more samples, including cocoa nibs and toffee. In addition to the factory, Theo houses a confectionary and the chocolatiers make many different delicious treats. Once the tour was over we went to the chocolate shop for a sample of the Theo caramels.

Since we participated in the tour we got 20% off our purchase while in the store. There were many different chocolate products for sale. Also, this is the only place where you can purchase the caramels, ganaches, and other little chocolate confections. Of course, I couldn’t pass up the discount, so I bought a Salted Vanilla Caramel, a Burnt Sugar Ganache, and a Big Daddy.

I think this would be a great addition to a Seattle trip. The tour is affordable and didn’t take up too much time. It was a unique experience and I found it fascinating to tour a local factory that sells their chocolate in grocery stores all around the country.

Keep in mind that production does not generally occur on the weekends, so if you stop by on a Saturday or Sunday the factory floor might be empty. However, I toured on a Saturday and this did not change how much I enjoyed the tour. They were even running the roaster that Saturday which was an added bonus!

Plus, you get to try a ton of chocolate samples on this tour. Even my husband, who doesn’t really like chocolate, had a great time on the tour. Just make sure you book the tour in advance to secure your spot!