A rainy day in Spain...

My first venture into the world of handmade chocolates came many years ago when I took a trip down South to visit my Aunt Mary for Christmas. Filled with enthusiasm and keen to impress I dug out a recipe for rum truffles made with bread crumbs! The chocolates were carefully wrapped and travelled 400 miles from Scotland to Kent in the boot of my Nissan Sunny. On arrival I presented my contribution to the Christmas festivities with great pride. On Christmas Day the chocolates were ceremonially unwrapped and shared amongst the family members who all diplomatically "Ooh"ed and "Ahh"ed in all the right places whilst I tried to look modest.

For a long time my culinary skills lay dormant until 2005 when once again the desire to impress got the better of me. I was getting married and decided to make chocolates as favours. Once again people were very complimentary only this time they seemed to mean it and I thought, "I want to do this...really do it." Chris and I went to Spain on honeymoon and there we found a country in love with chocolate. Chocolate cafes, chocolate drinks, chocolate sweets. On one particular unusually wet day we sought shelter in an unremarkable cafe filled with people seeking the same shelter. The cafe was packed with tourists in disposable anoraks and locals smoking cigarettes. Everyone was drinking thick hot chocolate and eating fried skinny doughnuts - churros. So we joined in. I had the most delicious hot chocolate I have had in my life, real chocolate, thick and creamy, perfect - Hot Chocolates was born.

Since then there have been many sleepless nights. There has been lots of research and development, lots of tasting and testing. Family and friends have rallied round, given honest and open criticism as well as encouragement and enthusiasm. Even Chris is involved in making the chocolates and I owe the company name to him.

I hope you enjoy what we produce. We aim to give you exceptional quality and pleasure. If you are happy then so are we.

Sharon Grimshaw