Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory

Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory

There are some days where everything comes together to create perfect memories. The day I visited Junee Licorice Factory happened to be one of those days. It was the first truly warm day of spring and the drive along the highway from Coota to Junee was stunning with a blue sky sent a little bit hazy by the heat and paddocks of ultra bright canola whizzing past the windows. 

The Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory is something I have always thought about doing but never quite gotten around to so I had plenty of time to conjure up ideas of what it would be like - somewhere to spend a pleasant half hour and pick up a couple of bags of licorice to remember it by. Well I am pleased to report that this was one of those experiences where the reality was firstly nothing like what I had imagined and secondly so much better!

Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory

I don't know why but I had envisioned a small poky shed staffed by maybe one or two people. Instead, I was greeted by a massive 4-ish storey building which looked like something from a fairy tale surrounded by gardens and a car park which was jam packed with people who were already in on this not-so-well kept secret. 

I wandered inside and there was a girl singing live music (very well), a coffee shop and a gift shop full of not only licorice but also chocolate coated fruit and nuts, tea, rocky road and many other delights. I booked onto the tour (run on the hour at a cost of $4).I also booked in to make my very own giant chocolate freckle which allows you to get a bit hands-on with the chocolate and have a little snoop behind the scenes. 

Copper bowls, Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory

The tour itself was basically a video about how licorice is made, some taste testing of raw ingredients and the finished product, watching some of the licorice making process (on this day, no licorice was being made so we saw it getting coated in chocolate) and then a game of vertical licorice bowling which gave everyone a giggle. The tour was OK and the host was enthusiastic but a bit more behind the scenes action would have been nice. 

Gift Shop, Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory

Coffee Shop, Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory

By that time I was feeling a bit peckish so I decided to try our the restaurant, Graze@the factory. Wow! But that is a story for another day so watch this space!

Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory

The Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory is located on Lord Street, Junee. Junee is located on the Olympic Highway almost midway between Sydney and Melbourne (5 hours southwest of Sydney and 6 hours from Melbourne) with the nearest major centre being Wagga Wagga. Junee is 228km northwest of Canberrra. 

Cocolatte Chocolatier, Wagga Wagga

Cocolatte Chocolatier, Wagga Wagga

The Style: When this place first opened, it was one of the more stylish cafes in Wagga Wagga. Decorated in a boudoir style with chandeliers lighting the room, the place is decked out in warm browns keeping with the chocolate theme. Unfortunately, as time has passed the glossy finish of the store has deteriorated. That said, the overall feel is still warm and inviting. There is a children’s play area at the rear which means parents can enjoy their hot chocolate in peace while the kids are entertained. The local artworks on the wall are great and all are for sale.



Cocolatte Chocolatier Caramello Hot Chocolate



The taste: Cocolatte Chocolatier has a focus on all things chocolate with drinks, cakes and handmade chocolates the stars of the show. The quality and presentation of the handmade chocolates which went polished and appealing on my first visit to sadly looking very clumsy this time around. Instead of gold leaf decorations and a menu of appealing flavours, there was a shelf of kangaroo shaped chocolates and a giant chocolate freckle, neither of which had a sense of quality or appeal.

Cocolatte Chocolatier has a fair selection of sweets on offer at any given time and a small menu of savoury dishes too. I ordered a caramello hot chocolate and this was delicious. Served with a chocolate shot on the side (basically melted chocolate), the presentation was nice and the taste was gooey and decadent. The chocolate cake was moist and rich and came with a scoop of chocolate ice cream to cap it all off.



Cocolatte Chocolatier chocolate cake

The service: This is what has let the place down time and again. The staff are very young and all look disinterested in both their product and your experience. There are frequent eye-rolls to cap it all off. Definitely NOT service with a smile.

The price: Coffees and hot chocolates range from $3.50 - $6.50

The location: Cocolatte Chocolatier is located at 68  Bayliss Street which is the main dragin Wagga Wagga, NSW.