Houston, TXChocolatiers and Candy Shops

Mostly Chocolate & Catering is a family-owned chocolate shop on North Post Oak Road where head chocolatier Dany Kamkhagi makes handcrafted bonbons and truffles in flavors such as s'mores, vegan hazelnut quinoa and key lime pie, and boxes can be built from the house classics. The counter also carries chocolate-covered Fritos, triple chocolate popcorn and chocolate chunk cookies. Order a build-your-own box of bonbons.

Cacao & Cardamom is chocolatier Annie Rupani's shop, its name a nod to her South Asian heritage, and its chocolates are made in-house from ethically sourced ingredients in flavors such as garam masala pistachio, strawberry Szechuan, cardamom rose, chai spice, mango caramel, lychee basil and guava tamarind, plus a five-spice praline. The range runs from a signature selection and classic comforts to truffles and vegan and gluten-free chocolates, sold in crafted gift boxes. Order a box with the cardamom rose.

Araya Artisan Chocolate's flagship shop in Uptown Park makes its sweets from premium Venezuelan chocolate, with natural fruit purees, cream, nuts, liquor, honey and agave added instead of sugar, and it sells French macarons beside the fine chocolates and bars. The Café Café truffle pairs a Venezuelan chocolate ganache with Colombian coffee. Order the Café Café truffle.

Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue in Tomball began in 2011 as a chocolate-centered business that sold barbecue on the side, and it hand crafts chocolate from cocoa beans sourced from cacao farms around the world. One side of the room makes chocolates and truffles from raw cocoa beans while the other runs a full-service barbecue restaurant, so dinner and dessert come from the same stop. Order the truffles after the brisket.

ChocolatZeina has made chocolate for four generations in the Middle East, and its only U.S. shop, in Uptown, makes chocolate knafeh in pyramid truffles alongside a Biscoff cookie version, with its chocolates sold by weight. Order a few knafeh truffles.