Ethel M Chocolates

You know what's kind of wild? Ethel M Chocolates was founded by Forrest Mars Sr. in 1981, and is named after his mother, Ethel Mars - yeah, that Mars family, the ones behind M&M's and Snickers. But here's the thing that gets me: Mars retired from the eponymous company in 1973, but soon grew bored. In 1979, he was planning a new candy venture named after his mother. So basically, this guy couldn't stay retired and decided to honor his mom by creating what would become one of America's most distinctive chocolate experiences.

And talk about picking the perfect spot. Henderson was also chosen because of its lack of pollution, as chocolate is susceptible to odors. Plus, Ethel M quickly became popular for its liqueur-filled chocolates, which accounted for 5 of the 24 varieties offered at the time. The liqueur candies were sold only in Nevada, one of two states allowing large quantities of liquor in candy, the other being Kentucky. Smart business move, right?

But here's what really sets them apart - the chocolates are made without preservatives, using recipes created by Ethel Mars. Because the chocolates lack preservatives, they have a short shelf-life. As of 2016, the factory produces approximately 8 million pieces of chocolate annually. That's a lot of fresh chocolate moving through their system.

The whole experience is pretty unique too. Stroll through our 3-acre cactus garden and explore one of the most prolific botanical collections of its kind. Featuring over 300 different species of plants, our garden is enjoyable year-round for the entire family. Since 1994, the cactus garden has been decorated at the end of each year with holiday lights to celebrate Christmas. Early on, the display included approximately 50,000 lights. This later grew to 500,000, with the display taking two months to complete.

What I find fascinating is how they've managed to stay true to their artisan roots while being part of a massive corporation. Dedicated to the artisan style small-batch tradition, the chocolatiers at Ethel M still grind their own nuts, mix their own flavors, and cook their caramel fillings in the original copper kettles. That's the kind of detail that makes all the difference when you're talking about premium chocolate.