Hong Kong is considered to have one of the most sophisticated luxury markets in the world. Any brand looking to appeal to this astute audience has to apply considerable effort to not only draw attention but retain it. More so, the product offering has to be of the utmost quality and exude excellence. Thankfully, for Chocolates by Ryan L Foote, quality and excellence are the defining traits of this inventive brand.  

Established in late 2018 by Ryan L Foote himself, this Hong Kong-based chocolate studio is the epitome of innovation thanks to the creative use of 3D technology in the chocolate-making process as well as a keen sense of adventure to explore unlikely flavor combinations.  

By combining age-old chocolatier techniques with modern printing technologies, Foote creates unconventionally shaped bite-size treats that, more often than not, spark intrigue. In conceptualizing and designing the shapes of his edibles, Foote draws on a variety of influences. In previous collections, these have been natural geology, architecture and nature as well as food, ceramic bubble plates and fractal geometry. In some ways, Foote’s imagination is unhinged. Not that anyone is complaining, as it makes for memorable chocolate dining.  

Considering that Chocolates by Ryan L Foote is the proverbial ‘new kid on the luxury chocolate block’, it sure is turning the scene on its head – and everybody is noticing. The studio is hugely popular among Hongkongers. 

While the peculiar shapes of Chocolates by Ryan L Foote capture attention, what keeps customers returning for more are the inventive ganache fillings that bring together traditional Cantonese and Native Australian flavors. Whether it’s the strawberry gum dark chocolate ganache, the quandong & fingerlime cream combination, the creamy egg tart-inspired flavor, or the dark chocolate and aged mandarin-rind pairing, Foote succeeds in creating options that cater for every taste profile.  

The product range at Chocolates by Ryan L Foote also includes CBD-infused chocolates and drinking chocolate. 

Chocolates by Ryan L Foote is the culmination of Foote’s years of experience in the culinary world, which followed his time of studying in Melbourne. Foote completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts with majors in sculpture and spatial practices at the Victorian College of the Arts (University of Melbourne). He describes chocolate as having “playful yet serious qualities. The fact that it can be molded and sculptured naturally appeals to my academic training”. 

After years of experimentation and research, Foote commenced his journey to reimagine chocolate for the digital age, cue the birth of Chocolates by Ryan L Foote. “I’ve always been interested in pushing boundaries and bringing classic techniques together with new technologies,” explains Foote. Indeed, the boundaries have been pushed, and with great success. In 2021, Luxury Lifestyle Awards selected the chocolatier winner in the category Best Luxury Fine Chocolate in Asia.  

The award acknowledged the efforts of Chocolates by Ryan L Foote to create chocolates that are both visually engaging and reflective of contemporary design while embracing our multicultural world. For example, the Hong Kong Collection seeks to honor classic local tastes such as red bean and traditional Hong Kong milk tea, while the Australian Collection is inspired by native botanicals such as pepperberry. 

In the Single Origin Collection you will find single-origin chocolates from Africa (Sao Tome), Asia Pacific (Papua New Guinea) and South-east Asia (Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam). Chocolates by Ryan L Foote also has a Whiskey Collection, which incorporates spirits from Japan, Scotland and the USA, among other countries. 

At present, Foote splits his time between his home country Australia and Hong Kong, to which he moved in 2014. While physically demanding, he describes his dual residence as a source of “perspective on how different markets can be and how within businesses you need to both be nimble and adaptable”.