News and Events

Alma loves your momma! Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 10. We’ve put together some beautiful treats for her enjoyment… … » more

Our shop is filled with frogs, hedgehogs and bunnies! Chocolatey and delicious, we have plenty of edible and inedible (wool) creatures for your baskets and bellies. … » more

Alma returns to the Portland Farmer’s Market on Saturday, April 4th for the 2009 season. Join us at our roots, where Sarah first ventured out of her home to sell chocolates to the lovely people of Portland.

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What could be simpler? Sample free chocolate, take care of your holiday shopping, and go on your merry way. Mark your calendar today:

Sunday, December 7th
12:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Sample this year’s holiday treats, place an order and choose a pick-up date (Dec. 14 or Dec. 21). And that’s it. You’re done. Relax and enjoy the season.

» Download Holiday Order Form (PDF)

» Download Alma Flavors Guide (PDF)

The Next Generation Chocolatier show and awards were held in NYC last night. They gave several awards for specific pieces of chocolate and flavor combinations and all that, but the final award of the night was the “Rising Star” award, which is meant to recognize the person who shows the most promise and is doing the most interesting things with their work. It’s meant to be a way to highlight an American artisan chocolatier who is someone to watch. They give it once every two years. And Sarah won.

Mexicans celebrate El Dia de los Muertos on November first and second. For these days of the dead, people build altars to their loved ones, with their old favorite foods and sodas, pictures, candles, clothing and such. They eat skeleton cookies and traditional breads, decorate sugar skulls and stay all night at the cemetery telling stories, celebrating and mourning at the same time.

We hope to honor a little of that spirit through art and edible treats at Alma this weekend. We’ll have Ibarra hot chocolate (comforting cinnamon-tinged hot chocolate from Mexico) all weekend long. Pick up a skele-pop, chocolate skull or skele-bar (with Novios–day of the dead bride or groom skeletons on ‘em). We’ll have spicy chocolate cookies, tequila sunrise bon bons, Hot Lips apple soda, and more themed treats Saturday and Sunday (November 1st and 2nd).

Halloween, shortened from All Hallows’ Evening, is the eve of All Saints’ Day in Pagan tradition. Its origins hearken back to a Celtic festival known as Samhain, a celebration of the end of the harvest season. It was believed that on October 31st, the boundary between the living and the dead was dissolved, and that the dead would cause problems–like damaging crops. Costumes and masks worn at the festival were an attempt to mimic or placate these unruly spirits.

To placate our Halloween spirits Alma will have caramel apples and *free* chocolate froggies for any costumed child under the age of 12 who comes trick or treating at Alma! Parents can pick up a habanero caramel crown if they come in costume too.

Don’t be afraid to stop on by!

Cathy Pitters’ third annual Dia de los Muertos show is up through November 2nd. You may know her as one of the founders of Crafty Wonderland or remember her beautiful found object shrines and crosses from previous shows. We are delighted to have her back with new work. This year she is featuring all hand-cut tin, featuring images of the Virgin of Guadalupe among other beauties. Come early because her pieces sell-out fast