It started with a dare in 1983...

In the kitchen of the Ice House Restaurant in Burlington, Vermont. Every year Jim Lampman would buy his staff fancy chocolates as holiday gifts. One year his pastry chef confessed that those chocolates were pretty mediocre. So Jim dared him to make something better. Together they began making the most amazing, hand-rolled, creamy truffles. And the rest, as they say, is history.

A rich, Vermont heritage

Vermont is more than just our home; it’s a way of doing things. It’s a place where creativity and craftsmanship combine with fresh, local ingredients to create gourmet specialty chocolates that are truly extraordinary. Long before eating local became a trend it just made sense to us that using high-quality honey, maple syrup, and fresh dairy from our local farmers and producers would result in superior chocolates.

A Family Tradition

We are a multi-generational, family business, just like the generations of Vermont family farmers that provide us with fresh butter, cream, maple syrup, and honey. And just like the generations of cacao farmers in places like the Dominican Republic and Guatemala — with whom we have direct partnerships. Today, Jim’s son and daughter, Eric and Ellen, are defining the future of Lake Champlain Chocolates by developing award-winning organic products and spearheading sustainable sourcing initiatives. Along the way following the Lampman family principles: Dare to do better. Always do it with Passion. And do it your way.