Chloé Doutre Roussel, Specialty Chocolate Expert

Chloé Doutre Roussel’s childhood passion paved the way for an unparalleled expertise in the realm of specialty chocolate. Devoted to producing chocolate of the finest quality, Chloé promotes the “bean to bar” method, working directly alongside cacao growers and chocolatiers. She travels far and wide, spending time on plantations to gain and share new insights. Besides using the finest possible raw materials, Chloé advocates for continued learning, ethical farming and of course, bold flavours.

What began as a childhood passion, when Chloé Doutre Roussel would hide in her room sampling chocolate and recording her tasting notes, evolved into a refined, global expertise. Self-taught and driven by her own audacious curiosity, Chloé is a pioneer of specialty chocolate and bold experiences.

The unique mindfulness in Chloé’s approach to chocolate has earned her the unofficial title of “first chocolate thinker” and she was also the first person in the world to establish chocolate tasting classes.

As an internationally recognized cacao and chocolate expert, Chloé has dedicated her life to pursuing the industry’s finest when it comes to quality, flavour and ethics. Committed to producing the best imaginable chocolate, her primary focus is on raw materials, which means not simply the cacao itself, but also the ethics and philosophy of its production. 

Always searching for what is deliberate and special, rather than what is generic or mass-produced, Chloé travels far and wide. She works directly with cacao growers on their plantations in Bolivia and other countries in South America, guiding them towards quality. Driven by her taste for knowledge, she listens and learns at every opportunity. 

In turn, Chloé advises chocolatiers who believe in working “bean to bar,” which is to say, farm to table in the language of chocolate. Her expertise helps chocolate makers learn to select and evaluate cacao quality. She also develops and invents recipes for turning that raw material into delectable chocolate products.

Drawn to Maison Martell for its rigorous commitment to quality, one of Chloé’s specialty recipes has a Martell twist: Chloé lightly roasts high-quality cacao beans, soaks them in Martell Cordon Bleu, and then adds them to her artisanal chocolate bars. These are, of course, best enjoyed along with a tasteful pour of Cordon Bleu .

Chloé’s chocolate journey is ongoing. She continues to seek out the best around the world and to share it through educational talks, guided experiences and chocolate bars.

What is her secret recipe? Never stop asking questions.