The sweet peeps at House of Nestar sent Nourish a generous selection of their artisan vegan chocolate treats to try. Here's what our taste testers had to say!
House of Nestar is a boutique Melbourne-based chocolatier dedicated to the art and craft of deluxe vegan chocolates. Founded in 2007 by plant-powered couple Issy and Liz, they specialise in handmade chocolate-coated creations, from classic fruit and nuts to vegan marshmallows and honeycomb, plus a growing range of exciting new additions including chocolate spread, doughnuts, seasonal gift packs, and more.
Every product is made with love in Melbourne under the direction of European-trained chocolatier Issy and creator and designer Liz, using as many Australian ingredients as possible, no palm oil, and – of course – no animal ingredients. Proudly Vegan Australia certified, House of Nestar is also committed to giving back through charitable partnerships to support compassionate causes, including Animals Australia and VeganEasy, among others.
We’d already seen some mouthwatering images and glowing reviews via the House of Nestar Instagram account when they sent a beautiful box of samples to Nourish HQ for the team to try. Lucky it was a generous package, as these were seriously popular!
Our eager taste testers reported back with universal approval…
Rachael Morris, Editor, tried a few different samples:
“I managed to sneak a taste of a few goodies from of the choccie care pack Nestar sent us at Nourish HQ (no surprises there!). Everything was super yummy, but the highlight for me were those ooey gooey, scrumptious choc-coated marshmallows – swoon! The choc-coated honeycomb was also delicious and reminded me of similar treats from my childhood, while the Turkish delight was a sophisticated but equally indulgent sweet. I’ll be ordering more!”
Laura Thomson, Brand & Marketing Manager, tried the Nestarello Luxury Chocolate Hazlenut Spread:
“This absolutely delicious spread has become an instant breakfast must-have in our house. Rich, without being sickly, easily spreadable, without being too runny, it is the perfect sweet foil for the sourdough tang of our morning toast.
“Equally delicious drizzled over some vanilla nice cream after dinner, or as a dip for some beautiful fresh berries, our pantry will never be without this crowd-pleaser from here on.”
Maddie Northey, Assist. Brand Manager, tried the Dark Chocolate Ginger:
“Absolutely delicious! These generously coated ginger bites offered the perfect balance of sweet and spicy, and the chocolate was creamy and rich.”
Sarah Webb, Editorial Assistant, tried the Rose Crumble Turkish Delights:
“These were incredibly soft, crumbly, and sweet – they certainly were a delight with every bite! Each gel was coated to perfection with rich dark chocolate and finely dusted with cocoa, which provides a little bit of bitterness that complements the sweetness. Will definitely be treating myself to these again.”
Alicia Ridley, Art Director, tried the Bee-free Honeycomb:
“These were big, chocolate nuggets of goodness with that ultimate melt-in-your-mouth sensation, just like classic honeycomb treats. I’m so happy Nestar have created this vegan-friendly version of honeycomb with no hidden gelatine or other nasties, and can confirm they’ve got themselves a repeat customer right here!”
Cathy Laurence, Digital Editor, tried the Freeze Dried Australian Strawberries:
“Coated in the creamiest, dreamiest thick layer of dark chocolate, these were already blissful before I even got to the sweet, tangy strawberry centre. The freeze-drying works perfectly to create a crisp and light effect as you bite in, followed by a glorious melty sensation. After trying these, I can see why people describe Nestar as the most addictive vegan chocolates in Australia!”
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House of Nestar have a large dedicated space at Wholefood Merchants in Ferntree Gully, and can be found in a wide array of other independent stockists around Australia, as well as shipping nationally through their online store.
