Put down the Cadbury block, here are six unique Australian-made chocolate businesses to help celebrate world chocolate day:

#1. Mildura Chocolate Company – VIC
A social enterprise, the Mildura Chocolate Company is a community based organisation that is supporting services and opportunities for people with disabilities. It is an adjunct to the Christie Centre, a not for profit Disability Support Organisation.

This successful small business has an amazing team that makes chocolates using regionally sourced ingredients and sells locally from their shop and nationally using their online store. The business is focused on producing high quality chocolate products while creating a place of support, employment and career training for adults with a disability or experiencing adversity.

“We are fortunate to be able to source chocolate from arguably one of Australia’s most sublime chocolate producers, Kennedy & Wilson. They produce chocolate at their premises in the Yarra Valley using the best local and imported ingredients to create the most divine chocolate.”

Mildura Chocolate Company is proud of local producers and partners which include Murray Gourmet Salt, partners in product development and suppliers of their amazing pink salt Australian Premium Dried Fruits, suppliers of locally grown sun muscats, OLAM, suppliers of locally grown almonds, and Go Just Nuts, grower and supplier of the locally grown oranges that they dehydrate for dipping in the signature blend, blood orange chocolate.

#2. Girl Made Chocolate – NSW
Girl Made Chocolate is two person raw chocolate production. They create fresh to order organic healthy chocolate.

They’ve produced an alternative chocolate range packed with super nutritional components to boost the body’s health.

“We consider the health of humans, animals and the planet in all our processes, to contribute to the regenerative direction we wish to see the food industry move into. One where food production is healthier for humans and their environment. All our ingredients are plant based, we source strictly ethically. Through minimal processing we achieve a nutritionally dense product that fits the notion, that food is fuel. Our chocolate is colourful, unique and exciting.”

Some of their wonderful concoctions include native wattleseed, lime, vanilla, walnut, chilli, mint, coconut, lemon, and granny smith.

#3. Noosa Chocolate Factory – QLD
Launched in 2008, Noosa Chocolate Factory began by looking after the chocolate coating needs of wholesale customers. In 2009, they began their own retail line and now they handcraft some of the world’s best chocolate pairings. With locations

“We have partnered with incredible Australian farms and use cutting edge techniques to create chocolate pairings that will simply blow your mind!” say founders Chris and Amy.

Some of these exciting products include their vegetarian Valencia orange pectin jelly slab, freeze dried whole Victorian Strawberries, Kingaroy cocoa dusted peanuts, semi dried chocolate coated cranberries, chocolate coated young Queensland ginger and chocolate coated South Australian pesticide free Almonds.

From dark chocolate to milk and white, customers are spoilt for choice. All ranges are palm oil free and they have gluten free options. They don’t have an online store as everything is made fresh!

#4. Cravve – QLD
Cravve’s specialty is artisan chocolate crafted from Pacific cacao. This family businesses produces chocolate with unique flavours from the caramel flavour of “light breaking’ Bali, the mango/banana flavours of Daintree cacao or the spice flavours of Fijian.

Each bar is a special flavour journey of the palate says Peter Mengler, the man and chocolatier behind local company who runs regular chocolate-making classes at his factory in Burleigh Heads.

#5. Lixie Chocolaterie – NSW
Located in Sydney’s Surry Hills, Lixie Chocolaterie has a boutique shopfront on Crown Street that boasts their range of organic chocolates and desserts that they make on site. On the counter you’ll find squares of brownie and truffles piled high on vintage cake stands.

Walking in you are greeted by the sweet nutty smell of chocolate and a warm smile from the lovely founder Miga Aboulian. The service almost surpasses their delicious treats – our favourite is a mug of their hot chocolate.

#6. Bahen & Co. – WA
Based in Margaret River, Bahen & Co makes stone ground chocolate from bean to bar.

“We are on a continual search for fine flavoured cacao. Building long-term relationships with farmers based on solid principles of mutual benefit, transparent and fair. By paying direct and cutting out the middleman, we exceed Fair Trade and pay prices that respect the farmer’s efforts.”

“Our chocolate can only be as good as the quality of the cacao we source. We spend a lot of time searching for these rare varieties of heritage cacao that produce the finest of flavours. To secure these sources we work hard to build relationships with our growers. Farmers dealing with farmers – we strive to deal 100% direct.”

Their beans come from Papua New Guinea, Madagascar and Brazil.