Tauranga producers Mossop's Honey and Heilala Vanilla are providing ingredients in the new Whittaker's Artisan Collection, which launches today.

The Artisan Collection is a range of six 100g blocks for chocolate lovers, featuring local ingredients sourced from artisan producers around New Zealand and the Pacific.

Two of the artisan chocolates launched today have Bay of Plenty input. Photos: Supplied.

There's six flavours; with Mossops providing the honey for the Nelson Pear and Manuka Honey in the 33 per cent cocoa Milk Chocolate, and Heilala contributing to the Hawke's Bay Braeburn Apple with Heilala Vanilla in 28 per cent cocoa White Chocolate.

Other flavours in the artisan range includes Kaitaia Fire Chili Pepper Spice, Marlborough Sea Salt and Caramel Brittle, Waikato Grown Aromatic Oolong Tea and Single Origin Samoan.

Whittaker's Marketing Manager Holly Whittaker says: 'With so many fantastic artisan producers on our doorstep, it seemed a natural step to combine Whittaker's chocolate with the finest in local ingredients.

'We also have a lot in common with the artisan producers involved – many are family-owned and operated, and all are dedicated to creating the finest quality produce, from start to finish.”

The Single Origin Samoan Cacoa block is made with Trinitario cocoa from the Vaai Family Plantation in Samoa, which is working to increase its yield and quality of cocoa for export through the Whittaker's Cocoa Improvement Programme.

'From the 1960s to the 1980s we sourced Samoan Cocoa, particularly for our milk chocolate products,” says Matt Whittaker, Head of International Markets.

Heilala CEO Jennifer Boggiss.

'We're excited to work with the local community through the Whittaker's Cocoa Improvement Programme to improve the quality and quantity of Samoan cocoa supply, in a wider effort to reintroduce more Samoan cocoa to the New Zealand market.”

Hawke's Bay Braeburn Apple with Vanilla in White Chocolate Beautifully sweet and tart Braeburn apple pieces from Hawke's Bay, with an added hint of pure Heilala Vanilla from Tonga, enveloped in mouth-watering white chocolate.

Heilala CEO Jennifer Boggiss, whose company is based in Te Puna, says: 'As a fellow family-owned New Zealand business, there's a real synergy between Heilala and Whittaker's.

'Heilala Vanilla products are made from organically grown, bourbon variety vanilla beans from Tonga, and we're excited for Kiwis to taste Heilala Vanilla's first foray into Whittaker's chocolate.”

Wendy Mossop, general manager of Mossop's Honey, adds: 'Whittaker's and Mossop's are cut from the same cloth – we're both family-owned businesses more than 65 years old.

'Whittaker's focus is on creating fantastic quality chocolate from bean to bar, while ours is on creating the best in honey from hive to honey pot.”

Mossop's managing director Neil Mossop.