In a boutique studio at Kibbutz Evron, just outside Nahariya, chocolatier and local resident Chanie Koenig is combining New York training with the landscapes, flavours and community spirit of northern Israel.
Koenig is the founder of Cacao HaGalil, an artisanal chocolate business built around careful technique, premium ingredients and a strong sense of place. Her journey to the Western Galilee began thousands of kilometres away, in New York, where she completed her culinary studies and then spent five years working at Jacques Torres Chocolate. By the end of that period, she had risen to manage chocolate production.
A New York education, a Galilean home
In 2020, Koenig made aliyah and quickly fell in love with the North. The move gave her the opportunity to bring together two things she cared deeply about: fine chocolate and life in Israel. Cacao HaGalil grew from that meeting point.
Today, every piece is handcrafted in small batches. The boutique says it works with high-quality Belgian chocolate and fresh, natural ingredients, without preservatives. Koenig’s designs and flavour combinations take inspiration from the scenery of the Galilee, turning a local landscape into something visitors can taste as well as see.
More than a chocolate shop
Cacao HaGalil is not only a place to buy pralines, chocolate bars and gift boxes. Koenig also hosts hands-on workshops for children, adults, families, couples and workplace groups. Participants can learn the basics of working with chocolate or explore more advanced techniques, including decorated bars and pralines.
The boutique also creates chocolate experiences for celebrations and corporate events, along with customised gifts for businesses and organisations. Its products are certified Kosher LeMehadrin under the supervision of the Nahariya Rabbinate, and vegan-friendly dark chocolate options are available.
A local business with a community heartbeat
For Koenig, the appeal of chocolate goes beyond presentation. She describes it as a multi-sensory craft that should respect both the ingredients and the people behind them. That philosophy can be seen in the personal attention given to each product and in the workshops that bring neighbours, families and visitors together around a shared table.
Her story is also part of a wider picture taking shape across the Western Galilee: new immigrants bringing international experience to the region, building local businesses and finding ways to connect their skills with the character of the North.
“I founded Cacao HaGalil to share my two great passions: artisanal chocolate and my love of Israel,” Koenig explains on the boutique’s website.
Visit or contact Cacao HaGalil
Residents interested in visiting the boutique, arranging a chocolate workshop or ordering a gift can contact Cacao HaGalil directly:
- Location: Cacao HaGalil, Kibbutz Evron
- Phone: 055-500-3696
- Email: CacaoHagalil@gmail.com
- Website: cacaohagalil.co.il/en
Profile information and photograph courtesy of Cacao HaGalil’s official website.
