When we started making truffles in our home kitchen in 2004, it was a hobby, a way to treat our friends and family to something special—and enjoy a few ourselves, of course. Before long, we were hearing the same response over and over: These are so good. You should start a business.
So we did!
Many years after opening our first shop, our kitchen has gotten a bit bigger (it’s a commercial kitchen—with lots of fun gadgets). We’ve also expanded to two locations in Portland. What hasn’t changed is our commitment to making handcrafted sweets using only the best ingredients. For us, chocolate-making is more than a business. It’s an art.
It’s also our way of fostering community and embracing all that Maine has to offer—both the people and the products. We use:
- Regionally harvested organic maple syrup tapped in Madison
- Sea salt from Marshfield
- Cream from Misty Brook Farm in Albion
- Butter from Casco Bay Creamery in Scarborough
- Beer from Allagash Brewing in Portland
- Potato chips from Fox Family in Mapleton
- Spirits from Cold River Vodka in Freeport
- Coffee from Coffee by Design in Portland
And of course, the bar-none best blueberries in the world.
Our 30-plus varieties of truffles, caramels, and buttercreams are hand-dipped in our 1,200-square-foot kitchen and retail store, located in the heart of Portland’s Old Port. Many of our other seasonal products are created in our Cove Street store in East Bayside, one of the city’s most exciting up-and-coming areas. We source only the finest imported chocolate, with no preservatives or artificial flavors—ever. We don’t use any nuts or nut products, and most of our options are gluten-free. We also make dairy-free/vegan chocolates.
We still can’t believe how far our little business has come. But thanks to the incredible support of our community (and this amazing city), we’ve been able to live out our dream—and share it with the world.
Website: https://deanssweets.com/
Social: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100045540560008 or https://www.instagram.com/deanssweets/
