Downtown Littleton chocolatier Chocolates by Mary Carol is stepping way outside the chocolate box this year and offering a wider selection of dark chocolates than ever before. In the past, the shop primarily offered only its own brand, but new owner Julie Pech, aka "The Chocolate Therapist" is focusing more on current health trends which include darker chocolates and a larger selection of international brands.

As passionate about health as she is about chocolate, Pech is committed to "creating a quality-focused chocolate shop where people can come in not only for hand-crafted chocolate, but alsoa unique selection of international brands with healthy ingredients." Just a few of the new products include the extraordinary Vosges chocolate bars, Theo (organic 84% and 91% dark chocolates), chocolate covered Goji berries, organic chocolate covered cocoa beans, brewing cocoa (ground for brewing in the coffee pot), Cote d'Or from Belgium, Nirvana, Caffe-Tasse, Spa Chocolates (healthy truffles) and organic pomegranate gummy bears."

Pech says the shop will also launch a series of new products this year using 100% all natural chocolate and organic ingredients. "We'll be using more nuts, dried fruits, spices and essential oils-all created for optimal health." She'll also launch a gluten-free line of chocolates, created for her son who is gluten-intollerant. "Some of my best ideas have been inspired by my children, especially my son who is highly sensitive to gluten and food dyes. When I tasted the organic gummy bears made without artificial dyes, I ordered them immediately. We're going to cover them in dark chocolate...you can see it's just work, work, work," she says, smiling.

The shop has already expanded its sugar-free selection to address a growing demand for sugar-free products in the wake of a US diabetes epidemic. Sugar-free truffles and the sugar-free assorteds have just arrived, as well as the Vosges Sugar-Free Red Fire Bar-62% dark with Mexican ancho and chipotle chilies with Ceylon cinnamon." So this is "work."

And what's to come of the 15-year favorite Chocolates by Mary Carol brand? "We'll keep the favorites, of course! Our toffee won Denver's Best in a contest last year and our mint-meltaways are the best in the country. But we'll be replacing creams with truffles in the assorted boxes very soon, so if you must have creams, stock up on your Valentine's boxes." Truffles for creams? Shouldn't be much of an adjustment.

It's the best of both worlds as The Chocolate Therapist and Chocolates by Mary Carol brands are still hand-crafted right in downtown Littleton. "We're like the last of the chocolate-Mohicans," Pech adds. "Order a custom box of your favorites, corporate gifts, special molds for parties and weddings and more--everything is very fresh. International, dark, sugar-free, health or hand-dipped, even wholesale--we've got it. Service like this is hard to find." She calls it One-Choc-Stopping.

Order from the website at www.TheChocolateTherapist.com or call 303-795-7913 to place a custom order (Only a small selection of products from the shop are on the site). Visit 2560 W. Main St. in Littleton to see it all.