Theo Chocolate Factory Tour

Stephanie Brown
Feb 6, 2018
4 min read

Often when I walk around Fremont I can smell a hint of chocolate in the air. I soon realized that Fremont is home to the Theo Chocolate factory. After living in Seattle for a few months I have become accustomed to hearing the name Theo. This chocolate is sold in many grocery stores and is often used in many local bakeries. My favorite cookie in Seattle, the Macklesmore, is even topped with a piece of Theo Chocolate (by the way- that cookie is sold at Hello Robin and you should absolutely stop by there when you are in town!).

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 was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this tour. I think this is a very underrated Seattle attraction and I would highly recommend that Seattle tourists add this to their itinerary. The tour costs $10 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).

Theo Chocolate factory tours can be booked online or in person. I suggest booking ahead of time because the tours do 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. Additionally, tours are only available for those 6 years and older. 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, story time, and of course- chocolate samples.

I booked the 10:30am Saturday tour and arrived a few minutes early. There was plenty of free 2-hour parking on the surrounding streets. Our tour guide greeted the group in the factory's lobby and we were brought into a room filled with benches and unique decorations. The ceiling was covered in green paper that resembled tree leaves. A cocoa tree was in the front corner of the room. The walls were lined with images of Theo Chocolate employees and information about the chocolate making process.

During the first half of the tour we stayed in this room while the tour guide discussed the process that Theo uses to make their chocolate. This was a really informative discussion and I learned quite a bit. Theo is a "bean to bar" company, meaning they receive cocoa beans and they turn these into their chocolate bars. Many other companies start with imported chocolate liquor (no- this is not alcoholic) instead of the beans. Chocolate liquor is a pure cocoa product that is formed after cocoa beans have been through a multi-step process. This is then mixed with sugar, vanilla, and flavoring products to create the chocolate bar. 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. It was very obvious that Theo is committed to producing a high quality product while respecting the environment and people who make this possible.

In addition to learning about the chocolate making process, we were given multiple samples of Theo's delicious chocolate. We started with an 85% dark chocolate, which was my favorite. 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 burlap bags of cocoa beans were stored. The guide walked us through the process of making chocolate and pointed out the importance of each machine. I was surprised to see a roaster that operated in a similar way to the Starbucks roaster I observed at the Roastery. Until the tour I didn't realize that cocoa beans needed to be roasted, but I learned that this helps develop the flavor.

In this room we were given 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 walked to the chocolate shop for a sample of the Theo caramels. Since we participated in the tour we were given 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 and learn about how they were made. 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!

Have you tour a chocolate factory? What was your favorite part (besides the samples of course!)

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