It's community. We are very much a local business ... There's a great variation of vendors and customers
- Donna Archer
IT is arguably the best chocolate this reporter has ever eaten.
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And luckily, Donarch Fine Chocolates will be on hand to tantalise your tastebuds at this weekend's Aroma Coffee and Chocolate Festival.
Owner and maker Donna Archer started the decadent enterprise six years ago.
Now the Tenambit-based shop, which has an mouthwatering array of sweet treats, has been recognised with multiple awards.
"It started because I really wanted a raspberry heart but couldn't find what I wanted so I decided to make it," Ms Archer said.
"Then suddenly, I had molds and tanks."
The fine chocolate maker has been attending the festival for the last three years, and will have a stall at Aroma on Saturday and Sunday.
She said the coffee and chocolate festival was an incredible opportunity to showcase the region's produce.
"It's community. We are very much a local business," Ms Archer said.
"There's a great variation of vendors and customers. We will be taking at least 12 individual chocolates, plus a lot of thin bars and coffee beans. We look forward to it every year."
Ms Archer is just one of dozens of vendors who will be selling an array of chocolate, coffee, craft and food at the two-day festival.
This year will include a number of firsts for the festival including a collaborative pop-up cocktail bar between local bar RAMA and coffee distillery Mr Black, as well as an interactive coffee lab from award winning roasters Danes Specialty Coffee.
The special hosts are Masterchef contestants Steph de Sousa and Reece Hipwell who will be giving demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday.
My Kitchen Rules champions Matt Gawthrop and Luke Stewart will also be showing off their 'Dark Chocolate Tart with an Espresso Semifreddo' - their grand final winning dish.
Maitland Council will also have its first 'mug wall' to encourage attendees to use a non-disposal mug or bring their own.
The Aroma Coffee and Chocolate Festival will be held on August 10 and 11 from 10am to 4pm at the Riverside car park.
For more information about the festival, visit maitlandaroma.com.au