Ciokarrua, Sicily

The story of Ciokarrua resemble the story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Willy Wonka, only the time and place are different. It is 2007, Sicily, in the baroque town of Modica and the chocolate maker is called Giovanni Cicero.

Giovanni comes from a Sicilian family that has been growing and producing Carob for generations, and decided, having been born in Modica and studied the history of the famous chocolate, that he should start producing chocolate as well as carob. Whilst carob is in Giovanni’s DNA, chocolate becomes Giovanni's passion.

From there to now, the story has not changed much, other than the shop has become bigger, but Ciokarrua still remains an artisan Modica chocolate and carob maker and it is still Giovanni’s passion.

Modica chocolate is the only Italian P.G.I. (protected geographical indication) chocolate due to its ancient and original way of making, by using manual grinding, meaning that the recipe cannot be replicated on an industrial scale. This ancient process gives the chocolate a special grainy and crumbly texture and aromatic flavour making it truly unique.