I know most of us don’t wake up one day and ask, “where can I buy chocolate covered mandarins?” But once you visit Newcastle’s adorable Fruit and Chocolate Workshop, you’ll be glad you’ve found the ultimate source for these handmade treats you’ll wonder why you didn’t ask yourself that question sooner. Here’s the beautiful thing about this find it’s a source for unique gifts, a place to buy handcrafted chocolate, and the picture-perfect example of a small, family-owned business that makes you feel great about supporting it. Please read on to learn why this special little shop is such a small-town favorite.

Farm to Confection Excellence: How Local Fruit Becomes Artisan Treats

Fruit and Chocolate Workshop is located in the sweet, historic Newcastle (first pun, check). The owners are a local family deeply rooted in the Newcastle community, proudly bringing fruit back to its roots in the famous Newcastle fruit packing sheds. Almost everything sold at Fruit and Chocolate Workshop is handled by the same family John and Sarah Gillmore from the mandarins grown on their local farm, Windy Ridge Mandarin Farm, to the final presentation of each product in the shop. 

On the day I visited Fruit and Chocolate Workshop, I was instantly charmed. The shop is small but thoughtfully arranged every inch filled with something beautiful or unexpected. I couldn’t believe how much there was to discover in such an intimate space. I was fortunate enough to meet Sarah Gillmore, and talking with her made everything about the shop make sense. She’s as genuine as she is talented, and you get the clear impression that what she creates and how she lives comes from a place of care and authenticity.  I learned that Fruit and Chocolate Workshop is a small-batch producer, with everything based on the seasonal availability of fruit. The star of the show is the one that started it all the Owari Satsuma citrus from Windy Ridge Mandarin Farms. The Gillmores developed the concept for the shop from their passion for freeze-dried fruit. Sarah shared that she began freeze-drying food for family hiking trips. Their freeze-dried mandarins were such a standout that the family wanted to share them more broadly. That, combined with Sarah’s love of confectionary creation, and boom Fruit and Chocolate Workshop was born.

Handcrafted Confectionary Creations You Won’t Find in Big Box Stores

Awe works as a cognitive reset, quieting the brain’s internal noise while stimulating its reward system. Chocolate activates that same system and contains compounds that naturally elevate mood. So it’s no surprise that walking into Fruit and Chocolate Workshop feels almost therapeutic. When chocolate meets awe, the brain experiences the best kind of reward possible. Chocolate makes you feel good; awe reminds you why. That’s the Fruit and Chocolate Workshop magic.

Everything in the shop is created or carefully chosen with intention. The chocolate is high quality, with enough cacao content to register as dark without tipping into bitterness. It lands right in that sweet spot where both milk and dark chocolate lovers are happy (yes, that one might be low-hanging fruit). The most popular item remains the chocolate-covered mandarin slices, but seasonal offerings bring in other chocolate-dipped fruits as well. There’s also chocolate bark layered with fruit infusions. I asked Sarah what she considered her most unexpected hit. Without hesitation, she showed me the line of freeze-dried mandarins designed to be dropped into drinks mocktails or cocktails. She explained that these deliver a more concentrated flavor due to the specific fruit sections used. On the day of my visit, the available options included Modka and Cinnamon Old-Fashioned Mix.

Perfect Place to Shop for Gift Giving

The name includes the word “workshop,” and while I didn’t see any upcoming sessions, I did notice past workshops centered around gift creation. Even without a scheduled class, the shop offers plenty of ways to create something personal and thoughtful.  Sarah mentioned that one of their most gifted items is the mini chocolate cakes. Think hostess-style chocolate cakes completely reimagined at a luxury level. I had to try one (purely for research purposes, of course). I also couldn’t resist the chocolate-covered cookies. I bought six to share with my family and showed impressive restraint by not eating them at once.

There are pre-assembled gift boxes featuring top sellers, or you can build your own, which will be packaged into custom boxes. Best of all, the harvest-driven rotation of products means there’s always something new to discover.

By now, it’s clear this is a special shop owned by a deeply committed local family. They encourage customers to reach out with special requests, and it’s clear that this offer extends beyond sales. The Gillmore family actively supports local causes, giving their time and energy back to the community. Please visit Fruit and Chocolate Workshop. Your mouth will be happy, and your heart will be full.

Stanford Ranch Self Storage

Whether you’re picking up a unique gift, treating visiting friends, or simply giving yourself a moment to slow down during moving day, this Newcastle gem is well worth the short drive from Rocklin. At Stanford Ranch Self Storage, we love sharing places like Fruit and Chocolate Workshop because we want our customers to experience the very best of our community. If you have a favorite local gem, we’d love to hear about it. See you soon.

Fruit and Chocolate Workshop
457 Main Street, Suite 3
Newcastle, CA 95658
530-492-0520

Open Wednesday, Friday, Saturday from 4:30 to 8:00 p.m., Thursday 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  Closed on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

https://www.fruitandchocolateworkshop.com/