Tucson, AZChocolatiers and Candy Shops

The original Monsoon Chocolate shop sits inside the La Buena Tortilleria building in the Santa Rita Park neighborhood just south of downtown, and it carries the full retail line. The award-winning bonbons come in flavors such as chiltepín pepper, prickly pear caramel and chile mango, beside chocolate bars, malt balls and confections like chocolate-covered marshmallows. Order a box of bonbons, then add a bar and a bag of malt balls.

Armando Bezies taught himself to make chocolate from the bean during the pandemic, and he roasts, grinds and tempers imported cacao into bars, bonbons and truffles. The domed bonbons, decorated with glittery paint, carry desert flavors: prickly pear caramel, ancho mesquite honey, lemon agave caramel and a saguaro fruit caramel made with syrup from Tohono O'odham farmers. The single-origin bars have won international awards. Order a mixed box of bonbons and the Colombian dark bar finished with red wine-infused sea salt.

A chocolate shop inside Trail Dust Town, the Old West attraction on the east side anchored by the Pinnacle Peak steakhouse, owned by Scott and Pascale Rail since 2004. The shop melts down Belgian chocolate to make truffles, nut clusters and chocolate-dipped strawberries, and the counter also holds fudge, peanut brittle, toffee and a wide run of nostalgic candies and confections, for tourists and locals alike. Order a few truffles and a slab of fudge.

Dino Volpi's candy shop across the street from Reid Park, opened in 2019, stacks chocolates and candies from across the country and the world under nostalgic decor, from the giant M&Ms at the door to carousel horses and a life-size Cousin Itt. A candy buffet sells taffy, Hi-Chew, Warheads, jawbreakers and Hershey Kisses by the pound, and the shelves run to regional bars like Australia's Violet Crumble and the Twin Bing from Sioux City, Iowa, plus dozens of sodas. Fill a bag at the buffet and look for a Twin Bing.

Alicia and Michael Huff's candy shop on the north end of Rita Ranch, their flagship since their first store in Sierra Vista closed, stocks candies and chocolates alongside Thrifty ice cream. The shelves hold nostalgic candy bars, novelty treats, Jelly Belly jelly beans by the pound, fresh fudge and locally made products, and viral TikTok candies such as Slime Lickers are what the kids go for. Order a slab of fresh fudge and a scoop of Thrifty ice cream.