Chana Koenig's boutique chocolate journey from New York to Israel

Chana Koenig, a pastry chef trained in New York City, established Cacao HaGalil at the entrance to Kibbutz Evron in 2023, driven by a desire to create delicious milk chocolate alternatives for her lactose-intolerant nephew. The gourmet chocolate boutique specializes in products made from goat's milk, which is often easier for those with dairy sensitivities to digest.

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No. That was true in 2023, when I first opened. Today, some chocolates are made from goat’s milk and are dairy, but most are made from Belgian chocolate. My dark Belgian chocolates are vegan and parve. I don’t use preservatives in any product.

Koenig, who worked for four years at Jacques Torres Chocolate in New York, made aliyah in 2019. She now operates her shop near Nahariya, offering a range of chocolates. While initially focusing solely on goat's milk, the boutique now also uses Belgian chocolate, with its dark varieties being vegan and parve. Koenig emphasizes that her products contain no preservatives and are certified kosher by the Nahariya Rabbinate.

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I don’t know anyone else selling goat milk chocolates in Israel. I actually make my own goat milk powder.

She notes that she is unaware of other chocolate makers in Israel using goat's milk. Koenig produces her own goat milk powder and advises consumers to understand their specific sensitivities to dairy products. Her most popular item is dark chocolate with sea salt, a personal favorite she shares with dark chocolate cashews. The boutique handles nationwide delivery and recently fulfilled a large order of 20,000 chocolate bars, a task that required significant community support.

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Dark chocolate with sea salt.

Koenig, who grew up in a Zionist household, always intended to move to Israel. After a planned aliyah at age 19 was delayed for 17 years, she finally settled in Nahariya. She is part of an Anglo community of about 350 English speakers in Nahariya who engage in regular social activities. Koenig prefers the North of Israel, finding it more appealing than large cities.

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Dark chocolate with sea salt, and dark chocolate cashews.