Singapore-based artisanal chocolatier Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie offers a range of alcohol-infused chocolate bon bons that will give you those chocolate highs.
A HDB residential area is probably one of the last places you’d expect to find an artisanal chocolaterie; after all, most craft chocolatiers prefer to situate themselves in prime retail spaces where intense foot traffic abound. But that’s exactly where Mr. Bucket founder Jerome Penafort chose – at the foot of a short HDB slab block on a particularly quiet stretch along Sin Ming Road – to locate his chocolate retail and manufactory concept offering all manner of custom-made bons bons and chocolate treats.
What makes recently-opened Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie rather special is that apart from a space where visitors can purchase artisanal chocolates, its open kitchen allows anyone to watch its chocolate creations be made. This includes the tempering, to pouring the melted chocolate into moulds, and finally being airbrushed or hand brushed by chocolatiers into little works of art. And it’s been somewhat of a curiosity for Sin Ming residents, many whom will stop and stare through the glass window as the Mr. Bucket team slaves away making bon bons.
Another thing that sets apart them from other chocolatiers is a particular focus on Asian chocolate. In fact, Mr. Bucket uses only cacao sourced from within Asia, from the Anamalai Hills in India to Sungei Ruan in Pahang and even Muar, Johor.
“The idea for Mr. Bucket started when I visited a cacao farm in the Philippines in July 2019,” shares founder Jerome Penafort. “Despite the gruelling demands of their work, the farmers were very open about the craft and challenges of farming cacao in this part of the world. After visiting other cacao farms in Asia from late 2019 to early 2020, including a farm estate in Panchor, Malacca, Malaysia, I realised that there is a gap in the market for exceptional Asian chocolates. This inspired us to create a space for people to discover and enjoy chocolate made using cacao from this region,” he added.
“We want to use Mr. Bucket as a platform to put Asian chocolate on the map.” – Jerome Penafort, founder of Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie
Mr. Bucket also takes pride in celebrating local flavours that are distinctly Singaporean. Salted Egg Yolk, created together with local snack company The Golden Duck, and Mala, made with mala oil from Hao Zhang Ji Chicken Claypot, a zi char stall in Boon Lay, are just two such examples. These collaborations are also testament to Jerome’s belief in working together with the local businesses to build a community.
The spirit-filled bon bons of Mr. Bucket.
But what we’re particularly interested in is its range of alcohol-infused creations. For example, they have a collaboration with local micro-distillery Brass Lion to use their ranges of gins in their bon bons. Dark Pahit highlights the warm citrus notes of the Pahit Pink Gin, White Pea the floral tones of Butterfly Pea Gin, and Milk Juniper the botanicals of The Singapore Dry Gin.
Other spirited collaborations include the Negroni Classic that was developed in partnership with Campari for Negroni Week this year, the Cointreau-filled Singapore Sling, and the Guinness-infused Stout & Cherry.
It’s the same for their festive collection too. Special flavours from Christmas this year include Mulled Wine, made with Cabernet Sauvignon spiced with cinnamon, cloves, star anise, and orange peel, covered in a dark chocolate shell. Likewise the Black Forest, which takes the flavours of that classic festive cake and turns it into a chocolate treat.
Championing the cause for Asian chocolate, temper it with local flavours, and infuse that with the spirit of collaboration? We approve.
Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie
Address 23 Sin Ming Road #01-15 Singapore 570023 (Google Maps link)
Opening Hours 12pm to 6pm on Wednesdays to Fridays; 10am to 6pm-12am on Saturdays and Sundays; closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
Web mrbucket.com.sg
Facebook mrbucketchocolaterie
Instagram @mrbucketchocolaterie
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