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Welcome!

1422636_10153158804044713_4995745475182151099_nIn 2005 Ashland Fudge closed its doors and I purchased equipment and recipes to use in what is now my ever-growing business, Branson’s Chocolates. In the past eleven years I have doubled the business three times and what began as a family run operation quickly grew to numerous hours a week from myself, 2 full time and 1 part time employees. Because we are growing at such a steady pace it can be difficult to learn to take a step back and let someone else help me out. I enjoy being hands on in all aspects of my business from packaging to fixing a broken piece of equipment.

So what set’s us apart? I get asked this question frequently as any business owner does. Our handmade, hand-packaged chocolates use many local and natural products sourced directly from the farmer. For example this months item of the month (Almond Butter Cups) used MaraNatha Almond Butter, a brand that was founded and is currently produced in Ashland.

We hope to see you in our retail store at 1662 Siskiyou Blvd in Ashland, Oregon to try our item of the month Almond Butter Cups, or one of our other specialty confections!

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Almond Butter Cups

Local’s Guide: October 2016

Almond Butter Cups

For all those that love a great peanut butter cup—crunchy, delicious, and oh so chocolaty—have we got an upgrade for you! October’s Product of the Month at Branson’s Chocolates is Almond Butter Cups, featuring MaraNatha Organic Crunchy & Roasted Almond Butter and Branson’s Semi-Sweet (58%) Chocolate. MaraNatha says their Organic Almond Butter is “bursting with rich almond flavor and loaded with delicious roasted organic almond pieces for a satisfying crunch — this is the premier choice for the true almond lover.” We agree, and we know you will too, so come on in and see for yourself.

“Once considered a simple party snack, today almonds are recognized as a nutritional powerhouse. They represent one of the richest natural protein sources of any nut. Almonds have no cholesterol. They also contain monounsaturated fats, which have been identified as beneficial for helping to reduce one of the multiple risk factors associated with heart disease.
Recognizing these benefits, the FDA has approved a qualified health claim regarding almonds: ‘Scientific evidence suggests, but does not prove, that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts, such as almonds, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.’
Almonds are a good source of fiber, and they contain many other key nutrients. Scientific studies have linked regular almond and almond butter consumption to success in helping to manage weight and helping to control normal blood sugar levels as a part of a healthy diet. Preliminary research suggests that almonds have prebiotic properties that can help to maintain a healthy GI tract.” http://www.maranathafoods.com/health-facts/almonds

If you want to find us on the web, we’re at—

We won’t be out and about in October, so come see us in our store at 1662 Siskiyou Boulevard here in Ashland. We’re just two blocks south of Omar’s, in the Minute Market shopping center. We’re open Monday-Friday 10-6, and Saturday 11-5.

If you’d like to see us at one of your favorite local events, you can contact us on our Facebook page or email us at [email protected] . We’d love to hear from you!

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Fruit Filled Chocolate Bars

Local’s Guide: September 2016

Fruit Filled Chocolate Bars

Just in time for autumn harvest, Branson’s Chocolates is introducing chocolate bars with fruit centers in three delicious autumn flavors—Strawberry Milk Chocolate bar, Blackberry Semi-Sweet Chocolate bar, and Peach Semi-Sweet bar, all made with local fruit. The peaches are from Beebe Farms, which is located right here in Central Point, and the strawberries and blackberries are from Columbia Empire Farms, just south of Portland. Beebe Farms has been offering locally grown farm fresh produce since 1889, including tree ripened peaches, fresh picked corn, tomatoes, melons, cucumbers, berries, apples, and more. You can check them out at https://www.facebook.com/beebefarms/ . Columbia Empire Farms has been harvesting the finest berries and hazelnuts fresh from the farm since 1976. Check out their website at https://www.columbiaempirefarms.com/ .

 

If you want to find us on the web, we’re at—

If you want to catch us out and about in September, here’s where we will be—

  • September 16th -18th, Friday thru Sunday, we’ll be “Celebrating Abundance” at the 2016 Harvest Festival—a celebration of the beauty and bounty of Southern Oregon and Northern California. We’ll be there Friday 5-10pm, Saturday 12-8pm, and Sunday 12-5pm. For more information, check it out at http://www.attheexpo.com/sectionindex.asp?SectionID=3 . This year the Harvest Festival features Southern Oregon Brewfest, Battle of the Bones BBQ Cookoff, and Wildlife Images’ Wildlife Olympics, along with local livestock on display, outstanding arts, crafts, and photography, and other exhibits that celebrate the regional harvest and the abundance of fall. The Harvest Festival features food, drink, music, and lots of old-fashioned fun for the whole family. And of course, our incredibly delicious chocolate! See you there!

And be sure to come see us in our store at 1662 Siskiyou Boulevard here in Ashland. We’re just a block south of 7-11, in the Minute Market shopping center. We’re open Monday-Friday 10-6, and Saturday 11-5.

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Krunch Bar

Local’s Guide: August 2016

Krunch Bar

Summer—it’s the season for relaxing, for taking it easy, and for keeping it simple. So Branson’s Chocolates has brought back the classically simple, deliciously crispy Krunch Bar. Imagine, if you will, creamy smooth milk chocolate swirled together with crunchy crispy rice cereal, poured by hand into bars—it’s the perfect combination of crunchy, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth goodness.

Be sure to catch our August Chocolate Talk video on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/BransonsChocolatesAshland . Brian Goodwin directs and shoots our videos each month, and they always feature our Item of the Month—for August it’s the Milk Chocolate Krunch Bar. Check us out every month to watch me making our latest product and talking about chocolate. You can also catch us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/bransonschocolates , where you’ll find out all about our latest events and happenings, and if you follow us on Instagram at https://instagram.com/bransonschocolates/ or @bransonschocolates, you know that’s where we post mouth-watering photos of our delicious chocolates.

We won’t be out and about in August, so come see us in the store at 1662 Siskiyou Boulevard here in Ashland. We’re just a block south of 7-11, in the Minute Market shopping center. We’re open Monday-Friday 10-6, and Saturday 11-5. Come in and get a Krunch Bar or two for yourself. Happy Summer!

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Lavender Squares

Local’s Guide: July 2016

Lavender Squares

Branson’s Chocolate’s Product of the Month for July is Lavender Squares. We infused locally farmed lavender into a semi-sweet ganache center, dipped the ganache in our Semi-Sweet (dark) Chocolate, and topped it with sprinkles of lavender buds. The lavender lends an earthy flavor to this dark, delicious chocolate. Lavender Squares are an indulgent, aromatic treat for the senses.

Culinary lavender has been used in cooking for centuries. Allegedly Queen Elizabeth I had a jar of lavender preserves on the table at every meal. It is used in both savory and sweet dishes. Lavender makes us think of both decadence and tranquility, perfect for a summertime treat.

Be sure to catch our July Chocolate Talk video on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/BransonsChocolatesAshland . Our videos are directed and shot, as always, by Brian Goodwin, and feature our Item of the Month—Lavender Squares. Check us out every month to watch me making our latest product and talking about chocolate. You can also catch us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/bransonschocolates , where you’ll find out all about our latest events and happenings, and if you follow us on Instagram at https://instagram.com/bransonschocolates/ or @bransonschocolates, you know that’s where we post mouth-watering photos of our delicious chocolates.

We won’t be out and about in July, so come see us in the store at 1662 Siskiyou Boulevard here in Ashland. We’re just a block south of 7-11, in the Minute Market shopping center. We’re open Monday-Friday 10-6, and Saturday 11-5. Maybe you will even catch us dipping and pouring chocolate!

We will be closed on July 4th, come join us in celebrating our nation’s independence. Ashland puts on quite a party for the Fourth of July, starting with a hometown parade and ending with a fantastic fireworks display. Happy Fourth of July to you!

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Whiskey Caramels

Local’s Guide: June 2016

Immortal Spirits Single Barrel Whiskey Caramels

For June, we are featuring our Immortal Spirits Whiskey Caramels, which are dipped in our delicious and rich Dark Chocolate. They are made with Immortal Spirits Single Barrel Whiskey, which is a four year, limited numbers whiskey. From their website, “It’s rested three years on new charcoaled American Oak, and finished for one year on our used Oregon Oak whiskey barrels. This is a very dark whiskey and a fine treat to offer.” http://www.immortalspirits.com/products Immortal Spirits Whiskey Caramels are a delicious addition to our Gourmet Line.

Be sure to catch our June Chocolate Talk video on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/BransonsChocolatesAshland . Our videos are directed and shot, as always, by Brian Goodwin, and feature our Item of the Month—Immortal Spirits Whiskey Caramels. Check us out every month to catch me making our latest product and talking, of course, about chocolate. You can also find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/bransonschocolates , where you’ll find out all about our latest events and happenings, and if you follow us on Instagram at https://instagram.com/bransonschocolates/ or @bransonschocolates, you know that’s where we post mouth-watering photos of our delicious chocolates.

If you want to catch us out and about in June, here’s where we will be:

  • Sunday June 5th, 12pm – 6pm, we will be at the Southern Oregon Grape Fair in downtown Talent. “Southern Oregon Grape Fair is a walking fair of wine, food, art, and entertainment: wine tasting from the region’s best wine producers; delicious food from our area’s most talented purveyors (that’s where we will be); live music from some of the valley’s most loved entertainers; People’s Choice and juried wine competition; and a chance to meet winemakers.” http://southernoregongrapefair.com/ Come enjoy the best of the valley, and pick up some of our chocolate; it’s especially delicious when paired with wine. See you there!
  • And the most important event of June is, of course, Father’s Day, on Sunday the 19th! Be sure to stop by during the week to get some chocolate for your dad because we will be closed on Father’s Day so that our staff can celebrate this special day with their fathers. We want to wish everyone a wonderful Father’s Day!
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Mango Creams

Local’s Guide: May 2016

Mango Creams

May means summer is just around the corner, so Branson’s Chocolates is bringing a touch of the tropics to Ashland with Mango Creams, a delectable fusion of exotic mangos and velvety chocolate. Our rich, dark, semi-sweet chocolate covers a luscious mango cream center, for a refreshing and indulgent chocolate experience. You love mangos, and you know you love chocolate, now you can love them together, and make any part of your day more delicious!

Be sure to catch our May Chocolate Talk video on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/BransonsChocolatesAshland . Our videos are directed and shot, as always, by Brian Goodwin, and feature our Item of the Month—Mango Creams. Check us out every month to catch me making our latest product and talking, of course, about chocolate. You can also find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/bransonschocolates , where you’ll find out all about our latest events and happenings, and if you follow us on Instagram at https://instagram.com/bransonschocolates/ or @bransonschocolates, you know that’s where we post mouth-watering photos of our delicious chocolates.

If you want to catch us out and about in May, here’s where we will be:

  • April 30th-May 1st, Saturday 9am-5pm & Sunday 10am-4pm, we will be selling chocolates at the Jackson County Master Gardener’s Spring Garden Fair at the Jackson County EXPO in Central Point. Parking is free; admission is $3 for ages 15 and up. http://www.jacksoncountymga.org/2-uncategorised/18-spring-garden-fair See you there!
  • Saturday May 21st 12pm-5pm, we will be at Paschal Winery pairing our Award Winning Truffles with their distinguished wines.
  • And the most important event of May is on the 8th, Mother’s Day! Be sure to stop by during the week to get your mother her favorite chocolate because we will be closed on Mother’s Day so that our staff can celebrate with their mothers. We want to wish everyone a beautiful & happy Mother’s Day!
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Anjou Pear Creams

Local’s Guide: April 2016

Anjou Pear Creams

Spring has arrived at Branson’s Chocolates! And to celebrate springtime in the Rogue Valley, we’ve created Anjou Pear Creams. Imagine if you will, a rich creamy center flavored with the very essence of pear, pureed pear to be exact, hand-dipped in our rich 58% Semi-Sweet Chocolate. Southern Oregon is widely known for our pears, making Anjou Pear a deliciously appropriate flavor for a springtime chocolate! It’s also the perfect chocolate to debut at (Where else?) Southern Oregon’s Pear Blossom Festival. Come see us there, and try one for yourself.

Be sure to catch our March Chocolate Talk video on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/BransonsChocolatesAshland . Our videos are always directed and shot by Brian Goodwin, and feature, of course, our newest items—Anjou Pear Creams. Every month you will find me there, making our latest product, and talking about chocolate. You can also find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/bransonschocolates , where you’ll find out all about our latest events and happenings, and if you follow us on Instagram at https://instagram.com/bransonschocolates/ or @bransonschocolates, you know that’s where we post mouth-watering photos of our delicious chocolate.

If you want to catch us out and about in April, here’s where we will be:

  • April 8th-9th, Friday 3pm-10pm & Saturday 10am-5pm, we will have our new Anjou Pear Creams, and many other chocolate favorites, at the Pear Blossom Festival in the Pare-A-Fare tent (the Festival’s local artisan food& beverage tent) in the Pare-A-Fare’s new home at the Commons Park Blocks in Medford.http://pearblossomparade.org/
  • April 30th-May 1st, Saturday 9am-5pm & Sunday 10am-4pm, we will be selling chocolates at the Jackson County Master Gardener’s Spring Garden Fair at the Jackson County EXPO in Central Point. Parking is free; admission is $3 for ages 15 and up. http://www.jacksoncountymga.org/2-uncategorised/18-spring-garden-fair See you there!
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Wasabi Ginger Square

Local’s Guide: March 2016

Wasabi Ginger Square

If you like your dessert a little spicy, or slightly exotic, or even a bit adventurous, we have the chocolate for you—Wasabi Ginger Chocolate is our Product of the Month for March. We add wasabi powder to a chocolate ganache square and top it with a piece of candied ginger. It’s a gourmet treat for adventurous chocolate lovers which is inspired by a wasabi ginger potato chip.

Easter is early this year, on Sunday March 27. So plan ahead and pick up some of our Chocolate Bunnies, in sweet Milk Chocolate or rich Semi-Sweet Chocolate before they’re gone. We will also have gift boxes of chocolate, perfect for your Easter basket, and filled with your favorite chocolates.

Be sure to catch our March Chocolate Talk video on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/BransonsChocolatesAshland . Our videos are always directed and shot by Brian Goodwin, and feature, of course, our newest items—Wasabi Ginger Chocolate. Every month you will find me there, making our latest product, and talking about chocolate. You can also find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/bransonschocolates , where you’ll find out all about our latest events and happenings, and if you follow us on Instagram at https://instagram.com/bransonschocolates/ or @bransonschocolates, you know that’s where we post mouth-watering photos of our delicious chocolate.

If you want to catch us out and about in March, here’s where we will be:

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Caramel Cherry Cordials

Local’s Guide: February 2016

Caramel Cherry Cordials

Our February Product of the Month is Caramel Cherry Cordials. Imagine a sweet cordial cherry, dipped in handmade caramel, then coated in our rich semi-sweet chocolate. Perfect for a sweet Valentine’s Day gift, or a delicious treat anytime. Be sure to check out this month’s Chocolate Talk video on Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/bransonschocolates and YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/c/BransonsChocolatesAshland to see how we make them.

And our Valentine’s Special is back by popular demand. When you buy our red heart-shaped box of delicious Truffles, we throw in a single red rose. So sweet! So romantic! (Limited availability)

This month we are celebrating two years of retail sales, and we would like to thank our many, many customers, some of whom enjoy our delicious handmade chocolate almost daily, while others not quite so often. To all of our retail customers, we say Thank You!

Previous to having our retail space, we sold our chocolate wholesale for many years. We would like to take a moment to also thank all our loyal wholesale customers. Branson’s Chocolates are sold locally and more at Ashland’s Shop ’n Kart, B Cazwell’s Floral Dezines, Enchanted Florist, Made in Oregon stores, Slugs ‘n Stones ‘n Ice Cream Cones (Brookings), Talent Liquor/Market, and Troon Vineyard. And many local businesses such as Anderson Auto Body and Blue Giraffe Day Spa and Salon give Branson’s Chocolates as ‘Thank You’ gifts to their customers.

Our chocolate is also sold privately labeled, at the Grange Co-op (all locations), Black Bear Diner (Mt. Shasta), Craterian Theatre, English Lavender Farms, Greenleaf Restaurant, Grizzly Peak Winery, Handy Stop Spirits (N. California), Hi Lo Café (N. California), IFA Country Stores (25 locations across the western states), Kriselle Cellars, Mountain Silverado gas stations (5 N. California locations), Old 99 Road Wine Shop & Specialty Foods, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Paddington Station (all 3 locations and our longest-standing customer, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!), Paschal Winery & Vineyard, Phoenix Gift Boutique, Schmidt Family Vineyards, Sew Creative, Sports & Spirits (N. California), Tudor Guild Gift Shop, Weisinger Family Winery, and 12 Ranch Wines.

 

And we privately label ‘Thank You’ chocolates for many fine businesses like AmeriTitle (Ashland & Medford), Ashland Insurance, Bayberry Inn, Butler Automotive Group, Edward Jones Investments (Larry Steiner), Farrell’s Glass Service, Iris Inn, Living Opportunities, Main Street Inn, Pear Blossom Association, Siskiyou Endodontics and Scott Valley Bank.

We are honored to have so many amazing wholesale and retail customers. Whether you buy cases of chocolates, or a single truffle, we thank you all!