Browse our list of frequently asked questions...
I hAVE A SEVERE ALLERGY tO .... aRE YOUR CHOCOLATES SAFE FOR ME TO EAT?
At Henley Chocolates we handle all ingredients with the utmost care and adhere to current safety guidelines regarding allergens which we routinely review and keep updated. All equipment, surfaces, staff protective clothing is washed/changed after handling allergens and production of different products is physically separated within our Warwickshire kitchen.
Dark chocolate products labelled in our shop as ‘Plant-based’ have been made solely from ingredients which do not contain dairy. Full ingredients lists, including allergens, can be found on our website for all the products we retail.
Although we take all steps possible to minimise cross-contamination, we (and our suppliers) do make products containing nuts (hazelnuts, almonds and others), dairy and wheat-gluten in the same facility. It is thus impossible to completely rule out the possibility of trace contamination from nuts, dairy, wheat or other allergens. For this reason we are unable to advise whether our products are safe for someone with a severe allergy to consume - we leave this judgement in the hands of the individual given the information above.
Dark chocolate products labelled in our shop as ‘Plant-based’ have been made solely from ingredients which do not contain dairy. Full ingredients lists, including allergens, can be found on our website for all the products we retail.
Although we take all steps possible to minimise cross-contamination, we (and our suppliers) do make products containing nuts (hazelnuts, almonds and others), dairy and wheat-gluten in the same facility. It is thus impossible to completely rule out the possibility of trace contamination from nuts, dairy, wheat or other allergens. For this reason we are unable to advise whether our products are safe for someone with a severe allergy to consume - we leave this judgement in the hands of the individual given the information above.
What is the shelf life of your products?
Your chocolates will arrive from us with the following minimum shelf lives:
- Truffles and caramels (including selection boxes): 4 weeks
- Solid chocolates (shapes and bars): 3 months.
How should I store my chocolates after they have arrived?
We suggest storing at room temperature (12-20 degrees centigrade), away from direct heat or light sources. Chocolate can be stored in the fridge but this is neither necessary nor ideal. The surface of refrigerated chocolate can become tarnished with a ‘bloom’ caused by condensation (area which looks whiter, feels rough to touch, and is not shiny). This is safe to eat but will shorten the shelf life of the product.
I have a special event/friend’s birthday coming up in a few months. When is the best time to place my order?
All our chocolates are made freshly to order by hand. Therefore please allow plenty of time between placing your order and the date you require the chocolate by, to allow our chocolate fairies to work their magic. This is even more important if your event falls within a busy period (March-April or Oct-Dec).
Typically our dispatch times are 3-5 working days; during busy periods please see notifications on our shop page about the likelihood of delays. Please also be aware that we remove key listings from our website when we reach our busiest periods to enable us to manage our current orders and meet our delivery deadlines so ordering in plenty of time is definitely helpful.
If you would like to place an order well ahead of time then just leave a note at checkout to inform us of when you would like the items to arrive up to a maximum of four weeks in advance. This is always super helpful for us and also ensures you get to enjoy the freshest chocolate on your special day :-)
Typically our dispatch times are 3-5 working days; during busy periods please see notifications on our shop page about the likelihood of delays. Please also be aware that we remove key listings from our website when we reach our busiest periods to enable us to manage our current orders and meet our delivery deadlines so ordering in plenty of time is definitely helpful.
If you would like to place an order well ahead of time then just leave a note at checkout to inform us of when you would like the items to arrive up to a maximum of four weeks in advance. This is always super helpful for us and also ensures you get to enjoy the freshest chocolate on your special day :-)
My chocolates haven't arrived yet.
All our chocolates are made fresh to order by hand. Typically our chocolate fairies need 3-5 working days to work their magic before your lovingly created and packaged items are taken to the post office.
Once your order has been dispatched you will receive a notification from us via email. Under ideal conditions second class postage should arrive within 3-5 working days after dispatch, first class within 1-2 working days. If your chocolate still hasn’t arrived after the recommended delivery time contact us and we will provide you with the Royal Mail/courier tracking number for your order. At busy times (March-April and Oct-Dec) please see notifications on our shop page about the likelihood of delays.
We cannot issue a refund on any product deemed lost until 14 days after the date on which your chocolate was posted. If your items have not arrived 14 days after dispatch then get in touch immediately and we will gladly refund or replace your chocolates if they have not been delivered.
Once your order has been dispatched you will receive a notification from us via email. Under ideal conditions second class postage should arrive within 3-5 working days after dispatch, first class within 1-2 working days. If your chocolate still hasn’t arrived after the recommended delivery time contact us and we will provide you with the Royal Mail/courier tracking number for your order. At busy times (March-April and Oct-Dec) please see notifications on our shop page about the likelihood of delays.
We cannot issue a refund on any product deemed lost until 14 days after the date on which your chocolate was posted. If your items have not arrived 14 days after dispatch then get in touch immediately and we will gladly refund or replace your chocolates if they have not been delivered.
I would like a selection box made up with/without the following items....
This is certainly possible. Place your order for your artisan chocolate selection box and add a note to state what you would like to the appropriate section at checkout.
Please note, however, we may not be able to accommodate all requests and it may take longer for a bespoke order to be sent out to you than it’s standard counterpart, especially during our busy periods.
Please note, however, we may not be able to accommodate all requests and it may take longer for a bespoke order to be sent out to you than it’s standard counterpart, especially during our busy periods.
I would like to place a bulk order.
This is certainly possible, just get in touch and we will assist!
Please note that the lead time for large orders can be up to 4 weeks. Contact us just before confirming your order for a current production time estimate.
Please note that the lead time for large orders can be up to 4 weeks. Contact us just before confirming your order for a current production time estimate.
Can you make a bespoke flavour?
This is certainly possible, just get in touch and we will get creating specially for you! In the past we've made tiramisu, Whisky, dark chocolate ginger, mocha, cherry, damson gin, .... (and many more!) flavours at special request in the past :-)
Please note that the lead time for bespoke flavours can be up to 4 weeks. Contact us just before confirming your order for a current production time estimate.
Please note that the lead time for bespoke flavours can be up to 4 weeks. Contact us just before confirming your order for a current production time estimate.
What happens if my chocolate arrives damaged?
We take the utmost care in packing your delicious chocolates ready for posting. However, on occasion parcels can be damaged in transit- something which is sadly out of our control. This is a rare occurrence, but if it does happen, or you are unhappy with your chocolates in another way then please get in touch.
To be best able to assist you, we will need photos of the chocolate, date and batch number (found on the label) and a photo of the packaging (including the postage box, if this is damaged in anyway).
We are very sad when our chocolate doesn't bring a smile to those who receive it and will do everything we can to try and rectify this :-)
To be best able to assist you, we will need photos of the chocolate, date and batch number (found on the label) and a photo of the packaging (including the postage box, if this is damaged in anyway).
We are very sad when our chocolate doesn't bring a smile to those who receive it and will do everything we can to try and rectify this :-)
Can you express an order to me quicker?
This depends on the product(s) that you would like to order and the time of year.
Before you place your order, please get in touch and we will be able to let you know the quickest time frame in which we can dispatch.
Before you place your order, please get in touch and we will be able to let you know the quickest time frame in which we can dispatch.
Can you post to ....?
We can only post within the UK (which includes Scotland, Wales and NI).
It is possible for us to post to any country except North America but the costs of postage are very high due to the size and weight of our products and because, as a business, we have to fill in lengthy customs documentation and shipping can be exceptionally slow to some countries and, to others, sometimes quite unreliable.
Your best option for international shipping is to purchase and forward the parcel on directly yourself using a reputable international courier to avoid the additional costs that businesses incur following on from Brexit.
It is possible for us to post to any country except North America but the costs of postage are very high due to the size and weight of our products and because, as a business, we have to fill in lengthy customs documentation and shipping can be exceptionally slow to some countries and, to others, sometimes quite unreliable.
Your best option for international shipping is to purchase and forward the parcel on directly yourself using a reputable international courier to avoid the additional costs that businesses incur following on from Brexit.
Can you make.... ?
We can only make items from chocolate but pretty much you name it we can create it.
We make our own moulds when needed and have created a range of bespoke options for customers ranging from chocolate basketballs right through to a hand crafted chocolate fireguard!
If you would like something really bespoke then get in touch and we will gladly assist!
We make our own moulds when needed and have created a range of bespoke options for customers ranging from chocolate basketballs right through to a hand crafted chocolate fireguard!
If you would like something really bespoke then get in touch and we will gladly assist!
Is .... Vegan?
We create a number of vegan options, made from plant-based ingredients only. They can be found in this section of the shop.
If you scroll below 'Read on for more...' title when viewing a product, the exact ingredients are listed.
If you scroll below 'Read on for more...' title when viewing a product, the exact ingredients are listed.
IS ... Plastic free?
Most of our products are packaged without the use of plastic. You can find all plastic-free products in this section of the shop.
Please note, for our selection boxes (standard or vegan) there's an opportunity to choose between plastic and plastic-free packaging.
Please note, for our selection boxes (standard or vegan) there's an opportunity to choose between plastic and plastic-free packaging.