Ethel M Chocolates

Ethel M Chocolates is a premium brand of gourmet chocolates manufactured in Henderson, Nevada.

The company was formed in 1981 when Forrest Mars Sr. set out on a mission to produce some of the region’s most decadent chocolates.

Ethel M Chocolates, Factory & Cactus Garden, Tasting & Tour, Henderson

However, the story behind this growing brand can be traced back to more than a century ago when Ethel Mars taught her son Forrest how to prepare the chocolate in her kitchen – a skill he perfected over the years. Today, Ethel’s legacy lives on, and you have a chance to be a part of this phenomenal movement by taking a tour of the factory, making a reservation for chocolate tasting, and even designing your own collection of assorted chocolates.

A tour of the Ethel M Chocolates Factory is a perfect chance to explore this sweet world and learn about what goes into making chocolate. The freshly remodeled factory features a fantastic tasting room, chocolate demonstrations, as well as a self-guided tour aisle. The most exciting part of this tour has got to be that admission is free and open for the general public.

While you’re at it, why not sign up for a chocolate tasting class? Each tasting experience lasts approximately 45 minutes and includes information on how the chocolate is obtained and refined before production even begins. There is also an element of how you can identify the different chocolate flavors.

The menu used for this experience includes classics such as dark, white and milk chocolate, chocolate covered nuts, as well as liqueur-filled ones for the adventurous chocolate lover. Tastings are held hourly between 10am and 7pm daily.

A visit would be incomplete without taking the time to explore the Botanical Cactus Garden. This expansive garden is the largest of its kind, not just in Nevada, but across the world. With more than four acres of cacti and other desert succulents, this amazing garden is a must-visit. There are hundreds of plant species on-site, with all the plants chosen for the spectacular floral display and great biodiversity they represent.

Ethel M Chocolates is every chocolate lover’s dreams come true.