When it comes to the recipe for romance, chocolate is often Cupid’s (other) weapon of choice. Known the world over for its aphrodisiac qualities, love and chocolate have gone hand-in-hand for centuries. With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, Thursday Life checked in with two of our Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Award-winning chocolatiers to find out what sweet treats will be making their way from the farm to the table for V-Day this year!

June Gottgens ­— the brains behind the phenomenal UMIUM Coconut Chocolate Spread — is anticipating an upsurge in the demand for her product in the next few weeks.

“We are in all major supermarkets at the moment, and we have developed a 245-gram jar that has been doing extremely well,” said Gottgens. “Chocolate is a part of our heritage — Jamaica was the first country in recorded history to have added milk to our chocolate, so we are really part of the genesis, and we at UMIUM take this heritage very seriously,” she added.

The brand is also a popular item at local airports, and negotiations with two major distributors are underway.

“At present, we export to Germany and Holland, and we’re looking into expanding our export markets by incorporating an online purchasing element in time for Valentine’s Day!”

An almond spread is next on the list of UMIUM products to hit stores in the coming weeks — and FYI for our DIY readers: UMIUM makes a great addition to your pastry recipes!