Ruby chocolate Easter bunnies hopping off the shelves

A chocolate factory south of Brisbane has made the first Easter bunny in Queensland made entirely of the newly discovered Ruby chocolate — and they’re hopping off the shelves.

Poppy’s Chocolate chocolatier Meena Poudyal Le Jour and owner Lynda Pedder with the newly released Ruby bunny. Picture: Jono Searle

A CHOCOLATIER south of Brisbane has become the first in Queensland to launch an Easter egg made entirely of a newly discovered chocolate.

Poppy’s Chocolate has released the bunny, made from the fourth chocolate variety Ruby, at their Beenleigh factory.

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Derived from the Ruby cocoa bean grown in Ecuador, Brazil and the Ivory Coast, Ruby was the first new chocolate to be discovered in more than 80 years.

Callebaut, the company that unveiled ruby chocolate to the world, launched the range in Australia last year. Picture: Rebecca Michael

Chocolatier and manager at Poppy’s Amanda Holland said the chocolate had only hit the Australian market in September last year and, as a new variety, had proved tricky to work with.

“Because it’s a different type of chocolate it needs to be tempered differently,” she said.

“A lot of places haven’t been able to work with it. We’re just really lucky that our chocolatier is actually a trained chocolatier from Belgium so as soon as we got it, she knew how to work with it.”

Ms Holland said the Ruby was bitter like dark chocolate, but creamier and “fruity” and was hopping off the shelves.

The Ruby bunnies are tipped to be the chocolate of choice this Easter. Picture: Jono Searle

“It’s got more of a citric flavour, so if you like your dark chocolates you’re probably going to like the flavour,” she said.

“I think these guys are going to be our bestseller this year, they’re unique.”

Poppy’s Chocolate owner and self-confessed chocoholic Lynda Pedder said she wasn’t aware of any other chocolatiers making the bunnies.

Lynda Pedder opened Poppy’s Chocolate in 2006. Picture: Jono Searle

Ms Pedder opened Poppy’s Chocolate 14 years ago.

“I was told do what your passionate about and the money will follow,” she said.

“Well I was passionate about chocolate.”

The company now makes more than 500 tonnes of chocolate a year.

The sweet treats are distributed across Australia, on Jetstar planes, and at luxury hotels like the Palazzo Versace at the Gold Coast.

Ms Pedder still eats chocolate daily and wholly believes in its powers to make people happy.

“Chocolate is good for you,” she said.

“Just the smell of chocolate makes people happy.”