A Guide to Shipping Chocolate
Shipping chocolate, especially in warmer months, requires careful planning to keep your treats in perfect condition. Whether you're sending gifts to friends, family, or customers, here’s how to do it right.
Shipping Chocolate: Key Considerations
Chocolate melts at relatively low temperatures: solid chocolates around 80°F and filled chocolates (like our truffles) even lower, closer to 70°F. Knowing the melting points of your products helps in deciding the cooling measures required.
Keep It Cold
Ensure your chocolates are refrigerated before packaging. The colder your chocolates start, the longer they will stay cool during transit.
Essential Materials
- Sturdy Box: Use a box at least 2-3 times the size of your chocolates to provide extra insulation and space for cushioning.
- Mylar Bubble Wrap: A silver-colored insulated wrap that reflects heat and keeps chocolates snug.
- Cold Packs: Choose the right size based on your transit time and temperatures. A small box usually needs a 2-4 oz cold pack. Wrap cold packs in a ziplock or newspaper to prevent moisture from affecting the package.
- Packing Material: Use kraft paper, bubble wrap, or similar to stabilize the contents inside the box.
Step-by-Step Packaging Guide
- Assemble the box and tape all seams to minimize air exchange.
- Line the bottom with a layer of mylar bubble wrap for extra insulation.
- Retrieve chocolates from cold storage right before packing.
- Wrap the cold pack in a ziplock or newspaper.
- Position the chocolates with the cold pack and wrap them together in mylar for a cold core.
- Place padding at the bottom of the box, then add the wrapped chocolates.
- Fill gaps with additional packing material for stability.
- Cover the top of the package with a mylar shield, close, and tape the box securely.
With this much preparation, your gift should be received in beautiful condition and ready to devour. This method has been tested from South Florida to Southern California in the heat of August!
Got a packing tip? Let us know! We’re always learning and eager to improve our shipping strategies.