Chocolatier serves up treats with a healthy twist on Valentine’s Day

A Saskatoon chocolatier is whipping up sweet treats this Valentine’s Day – with a healthy twist.

(Mia Holowaychuk/650 CKOM)

Julianna Tan is the owner of Those Girls at the Market, a chocolate company that specializes in “health-forward” chocolate.

The business bloomed nine years ago at a Saskatoon farmers market where Tan and her sister, both students at the time, spent the summer working in a pop-up booth. The chocolate at their booth sold quickly, and the summer project shifted into a career for Tan.

“We both have a health and fitness background,” Tan said. “That was really our focus.”

The chocolatier said she now sells thousands of chocolates each year, and every piece is handmade in Saskatoon.

Tan said her chocolate accommodates a wide array of food sensitivities. All products are made without dairy, soy, gluten or nuts, and are vegan-friendly. She said she keeps the treats sweet using organic maple syrup.

This Valentines Day, Tan said she’s rolling out a special collection.

Tan said her Valentine’s chocolates include flavors such as cinnamon heart, coconut bliss, strawberries and cream, and a brand-new rose flavor which Tan said is her personal favorite. This year, Tan said she also tackled a vegan white chocolate with strawberries.

Every flavour is created personally by the chocolatier, who said she gets a lot of her inspiration from pictures on Instagram.

“I’m a huge foodie, and so I love exploring all types of foods,” she said. “I have a lot of ideas, so I’m testing them out in the kitchen all of the time.”

Tan said she’s received so much positive feedback from customers that she is planning on keeping the Valentine’s flavours available all month.

Tan also co-runs The Little Market Box in Saskatoon, where she makes and sells her chocolate along with other wares from local producers.

Saskatoon chocolatier Julianna Tan shows us how she’s making her Valentine’s Day sweets pic.twitter.com/ANRqzedST6

— Mia Holowaychuk (@miaholoway) February 14, 2023