About Us

About Us

OUR STORY

Herbal Compounding As An Art

Our studio kitchen houses chocolatiers that use all natural & organic ingredients that create intriguing small batch handmade artisan inspired flavors. 
Using our Western Medical background , Traditional Chinese Medicine Degree , and our extensive creative skills, we've taken compatible herbs  and tailored each confection for optimal botanical balance.
CEO
(Chocolate Executive Officer)

Shelby


 I started Five Elements Living as a way to bring people together to laugh, love, and learn. As an extension of my personal practice, I wanted a beautiful space that enveloped Healing, created Joy, and inspired Creativity. With an idea to use chocolate in ways that would nurture instead of causing guilt, I was blessed to find two of the most creative, innovative chocolatiers in the North Country. Together, we designed a line of chocolates that taste uniquely incredible, indulgently luxurious, and strengthens our commitment to local curators who share our philosophy. 
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Ellen

A chocolate lover from a small child, Ellen never met anything chocolate she didn't like. In her early 40s driving along the St. Lawrence River in Northern New York, she planned out how she would open her own chocolate business and true to her word, along with her sister Angela Ballou, they opened St. Lawrence Chocolates in Potsdam, NY. The store closed in 2011, but their passion for chocolate lives on.

Educated on everything chocolate by l'Ecole Chocolate in Vancouver, British Colombia, Canada, Ellen develops recipes with the chocolate lover in mind. Now developing recipes with Angela and Shelby Connelly, owner of Apothecary Chocolates, the focus is on a sophisticated palate, but completely enjoyable by the everyday chocolate consumer. Chocolate is meant to be savored by the soul, after all it is the food of the gods.


LEAD CURATOR

Angela

Angela Ballou is a chocolatier whose goal is to encourage a love of high quality chocolate by combining unique and flavorful ingredients. She has been making truffles, creams, chocolate bars and barks for over 7 years but her love for chocolate has been with her all her life. Angela believes that simplicity is what makes a truly wonderful sweet treat. Everything that is added to chocolate should be just as unique as the chocolate itself. 

"Like Mary Poppins, chocolate is already practically perfect. Like a chameleon, it can change itself to suit its environment. Chocolate has the ability to take properties of other ingredients while still maintaining its own identity. It's an amazing confection." 

Angela makes Apothecary Chocolates by balancing the ingredients so every bar; every truffle; every mouthful is practically perfect delight. 
CHOCOLATIER

Maliah

Maliah has a deep passion for food. Before entering the world of chocolate she spent over a decade in hospitality at a local restaurant. She is also an avid baker and loves to make beautiful, tasty confections ranging from cookies, to breads, to pastries.


“When the opportunity came to learn a new skill I could not have been more excited. It’s a beautiful thing to love your work and look forward to being there every day. A rarity, too.”


When she isn’t baking, cooking, or thinking about food she enjoys downtime with her husband, exercise, entertaining close friends and most especially her dog, Roman.


“ I live my life with a quality not quantity mindset; ingredients matter. How we grow them matters and also how we consume them.”

OPERATIONS

Jennifer

Behind every silky-smooth chocolate and each meticulously crafted truffle, there’s Jennifer—our operational wizard and the  glue holding it all together. With a sprinkle of laughter and a dash of genius, Jennifer ensures that Apothecary Chocolates runs smoothly.


Jennifer manages the shipping of our online orders, responds to customer emails and handling customer care, keeps our operations organized, and throws on many other hats in the course of a day to help contribute to the success of Apothecary Chocolates.

OUR COLLABORATION WITH 

Callebaut

We are honored to partner with such a well known and deeply appreciated company whose standards of sustainability and fair trade fit beautifully with our passion for wellness and a holistic lifestyle. Adding our all natural and organic ingredients to their callets creates a confection so unique, you can taste the originality on the very first bite.




Share by: