With more than 140 years of history, 350 chocolate recipes and 90 gelato flavors, Venchi is a fine Italian chocolate and Gelato boutique. In addition to having 135 locations in over 70 countries, Venchi recently opened up a new branch in Tysons Corner Center. On the pricier side, Venchi chocolates are crafted with Italian mastery and incorporate all natural ingredients–no palm oil, low sugar, gluten-free, and mostly vegan.

Nougatine: 3.5/5
Nougatine is a classic sweet treat with a rich history, invented two centuries ago by Silviano Venchi, a 20-year old from Turin who loved chocolate so much that he spent all his savings on two bronze cauldrons and began to experiment. These experiments were so successful that he eventually produced nougatine, a chocolate with ground, caramelized hazelnuts in a dark chocolate coating. The chocolate adds a hint of bitterness that perfectly counterbalances the sweetness of the caramel hazelnut. Nougatine is an explosion of textures–rich, smooth, dark chocolate with a crunchy filling. However, it’s rather plain, and the caramel tasted slightly stale.

Pistacchio: 5/5
The pistachio has a white chocolate base with pistachio paste incorporated in the chocolate. Not only is Pistacchio an innovative chocolate, it’s delicious, with a creamy texture, warm notes of vanilla milk and a savory, nutty aftertaste. The pistachio flavor is distinct and buttery, balancing the sweetness of the white chocolate.

Dark BacioDiDama: 4/5
Baci Di Dama, meaning “Lady’s kisses,” is a type of Northern sandwich cookie composed of two crumbly hazelnut biscuits joined together by a thin layer of chocolate. BacioDiDama is the chocolate manifestation of this traditional Italian dessert. The biscuit was light and airy, while the dark chocolate was smooth and rich. However, I wish there was a little bit more biscuit because I felt it was overpowered by the dark chocolate.

Cappuccino: 5/5
Traditional cappuccino is a popular Italian coffee beverage composed of espresso, steamed milk and milk foam. The chocolate version is a combination of intense coffee, milk cream, and a sprinkling of dark cocoa. Similar to an actual cappuccino, the coffee flavor is complemented by the hint of milk. The chocolate itself is smooth and creamy–a coffee lover’s dream.

Tiramisu: 4.5/5
Tiramisu is a coffee-flavored Italian dessert. Traditional tiramisu is made of ladyfingers soaked in coffee, layered with a whipped mixture of sugar, eggs and mascarpone, topped with a layer of cocoa powder. Venchi turned it into chocolate–a 3-tier layering of mascarpone, coffee and Venezuelan milk chocolate. It tastes exactly like tiramisu, with velvety chocolate and a distinct tinge of cocoa. If you love tiramisu, you’ll enjoy this chocolate.

Cioccolato Bianco Con Frutta Secca Salata/White Chocolate with Salted Nuts: 5/5
Cioccolato Bianco is a white chocolate with hazelnuts, lightly-salted almonds, and pistachios set within it. It is the perfect combination of sweet and savory–with the creamy chocolate and crunchy nuts working in harmony to create an unforgettable treat.

Beyond chocolate, Venchi serves gelato, coffee, hot chocolate and crepes, with their own hazelnut chocolate spread. Customers can fill a “grab-bag” with chocolates of their choice or pick up one of their gift sets. The staff were extremely friendly, and the venue is decorated beautifully. Venchi chocolates are truly one of a kind, and I highly recommend checking out this sweet spot.