IMPACT - Life tastes better our way

Welcome to Paradise: Where World-Class Chocolate Meets World Heritage Beauty

Nestled in the heart of Australia's two world heritage areas, the Wet Tropics and the Great Barrier Reef we're crafting chocolate differently. At Charley's, every bar tells a story - one that begins in our
own rainforest-surrounded cocoa plantations and ends with a taste experience that' s won us global recognition as Australia's most awarded chocolate maker.

What makes our chocolate extraordinary?

• We control every step from tree to bar (think paddock to plate, but sweeter)
• Our cocoa grows surrounded by pristine World Heritage surroundings, on the cusp of the Great Barrier Reef
• We use 70% cocoa (versus the industry standard of up to 50% sugar)
• Every premium ingredient has a local story, from our FNQ-grown cocoa to tropical fruits from our neighbours

 

 A Taste of Our Tropical Paradise
Imagine standing in our plantation at Mission Beach, where Superb Fruit Doves soar overhead and cassowaries wander through our 150 hectares of protected rainforest. This is where your chocolate begins its journey. Our unique location - where ancient rainforest meets the Great Barrier - infuses every bar with a taste of tropical Australia that you won't find anywhere else.

Our Promise to the Planet

When you choose Charley's, you're choosing chocolate that:

• Supports local and Pacific growers with fair, direct trade relationships

• Protects our World Heritage environment through sustainable farming practices

• Uses energy-efficient equipment and sustainable packaging

• Turns by-products like cocoa shells into resources, not waste

 Local Flavours, World-Class Quality

Great chocolate deserves extraordinary ingredients. While most chocolate makers source their additions from around the globe, our tropical paradise provides everything we need right here in Far North Queensland.

 Meet Our Local Partners:

Beach Harvest - Port Douglas' Coconut Craftspeople

When Crystal and Daniel fell in love with Port Douglas during a family holiday, they didn't just stay - they became part of our region's food story. Taking over Beach Harvest in 2021, they now supply us with organic coconuts harvested just kilometres from the Great Barrier Reef. Their commitment to quality mirrors our own: each coconut is hand-selected and processed to maintain its pure, tropical flavour.

 

Tropical Harvest - Solar-Powered Fruit Perfection

In the foothills of Tully, Linda and Kelvin Ablles have mastered the art of fruit drying over more than a decade. Their innovative approach uses solar power and precise 45°C drying temperatures to preserve not just flavour, but every natural vitamin and mineral. This attention to detail is why their fruits add such vibrant bursts of flavour to our chocolate. 

  

Nutworks - Queensland's Macadamia Masters

Born from a group of passionate Sunshine Coast growers in 1993, Nutworks celebrates one of Australia's greatest native foods - the macadamia. These nuts, originally cherished by Aboriginal peoples in north-eastern New South Wales and Queensland, bring a distinctly Australian crunch to our chocolate. Each macadamia is carefully selected and roasted to perfect our chocolate-nut pairings.

Why Local Matters

When ingredients travel shorter distances, they arrive fresher and with a smaller environmental footprint. But it's more than that - by working with local suppliers, we're creating chocolate that captures the essence of Far North Queensland. Each bar tells the story of our region's remarkable food producers and their commitment to quality.

 Cocoa growing - Daintree to Mission Beach

                                    

Leading the Future of Sustainable Chocolate

As founding members of CACAO, we're not just making chocolate - we're helping shape the future of sustainable cocoa production in the Australian-Pacific region. While the global industry faces challenges from climate change to ethical sourcing, we're proving there's a better way to make extraordinary chocolate.

 

Every Charley's chocolate bar you enjoy supports:

• Australian innovation in sustainable cocoa farming

• Conservation of our rainforests

• Fair treatment of local farmers

• The growth of FNQ's emerging cocoa industry

 

References 

1. Charley’s chocolate is super safe.  See our test results for heavy metals at  Cocoa Facts & Figures

2. About our Founders 

3. Our Awards  

4. The story of chocolate

5. Processing  

6. CACAO https://www.cacao.org.au/