Karen Walker has again partnered with Wellington Chocolate Factory (WCF), this time producing pistachios dipped in Pacific origin chocolate.
Matcha and chocolate might be an unlikely pairing, but they’re the latest Karen Walker x Wellington Chocolate Factory creation, with pistachios dipped in Pacific origin chocolate and dusted in matcha to create the limited edition Matcha Milk Chocolate Pistachios.
The sixth collaboration between the designer and New Zealand’s original bean-to-bar craft chocolate maker is described as a rare treat, featuring cocoa ethically sourced from Vanuatu through WCF’s Grower Partner Programme. Walker’s Animal Kingdom print has also been reimagined as the release’s artwork.
Karen Walker said each collaboration is an opportunity to bring her and WCF’s worlds together to create a new, one-of-a-kind experience each year.
“I’ve always been chocolate-obsessed, so working with WCF has been pure joy. In creating each new collaboration since 2020, we’ve taken inspiration from many forms: a print, an ingredient that captures the imagination or the desire to create something fun,” said Walker.
“Animal Kingdom led us to make something lush and unexpected for 2025, which Matcha Milk Chocolate Pistachios delivers.”
Wellington Chocolate Factory co-founder Gabe Davidson described the new offering as elegant, balanced and bold.
“Our collaborations with Karen Walker’s team are a chance for us to play with flavour in unexpected ways; this year, we’ve discovered that matcha and milk chocolate are a natural pairing. Each pistachio delivers a gentle crunch and sweetness, which is then quickly followed by the bright, earthy finish of the matcha as our lush chocolate slowly melts away,” He said.
For Davidson, who sailed to the Pacific in a traditional vaka in 2015 to source their first locally grown beans, he says it’s now their mission to showcase on-trend flavours alongside the region’s unique flavour profiles.
“Cocoa grown in the Pacific is truly one of a kind and is the source of endless inspiration for us. A year ago, we shifted the majority of our supply to the region, and to see our farmers' cocoa transformed into offerings like Matcha Milk Chocolate Pistachios is incredibly rewarding for us, and them,” he added.
Volco has created two limited-edition pastries to celebrate the launch, which will be available at WCF’s Eva Street Factory from 10 to 12 October - Savoury Pistachio Filo, featuring goats' cheese, wild weed, pistachio and honey, and a Pain au Pistachio, featuring pistachios and WCF’s signature dark chocolate.
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