Zella dark chocolate bars

Zella Chocolate, Louisville, Ky,

Zella was founded in 2016 by a group of students from Miami University passionate about high-cacao, exotically-flavored dark chocolate.

Zella dark chocolate bars
Zella Chocolate, Louisville, Ky.
(630) 347-2988

Zella was founded in 2016 by a group of students from Miami University passionate about high-cacao, exotically-flavored dark chocolate. Thanks to the university’s support, Zella Chocolate has launched a second line of dark chocolate bars:

El Fenix: 85% cacao with English toffee, cayenne pepper and pink Himalayan sea salt
El Toro: 85% cacao with mango, coconut and black lava salt
El Zorro: 85% cacao with bourbon-smoked cacao nibs and blueberries
El Tigre: 95% cacao with bourbon-smoked cacao nibs

Zella Chocolate also donates 20 percent of its profits to Best Buddies International, an organization that creates lifelong friendships and opportunities for individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities. Zella Chocolate Founder Jack Manzella has been heavily involved with the program for most of his life — his brother (and inspiration), Casey, has Downs Syndrome.

Zella Chocolate uses all-natural ingredients and has plans to certify its products as organic and Fair Trade.

Ingredients (El Fenix): Cocoa beans, cocoa butter, cane sugar, toffee, cayenne pepper, pink Himalayan sea salt.

S.R.P. (3.5 oz.): $8.50

Alyse Thompson has held many positions with BNP Media, first serving as an intern at Candy Industry Magazine in summer 2012. She joined Candy Industry's staff full time as associate editor in August 2016 after a few years at newspapers in West-Central Illinois, becoming managing editor in March 2019. Alyse has also served as managing editor of Cannabis Products Magazine since March 2019. She has bachelor’s degrees in journalism and Spanish from Western Illinois University.