About Us
Who we are
From Banana Farm to Chocolate
In 2003, Chris and Lynn Jahnke left Melbourne and moved to Mission Beach, Far North Queensland, where they bought a 400-acre property at Mt Edna.
What began as a run-down banana farm soon became home to a new dream. After learning about the potential to grow cocoa in the Australian tropics, Chris and Lynn planted their first cocoa trees in 2012.
Today, Mt Edna is at the heart of Charley’s Chocolate, where Australian-grown cocoa is transformed into delicious chocolate right here in Mission Beach.
From cocoa tree to chocolate bar, our story starts at home.
Taste the story for yourself
Discover chocolate made with Australian-grown cocoa, right here in Mission Beach.
Why We Grow Cocoa in Mission Beach
Mission Beach is the perfect home for cocoa. Our Mt Edna plantation sits in the lush Wet Tropics of Far North Queensland, where warm temperatures, abundant rainfall, rich volcanic soils and surrounding rainforest create an ideal environment for cocoa trees.
But it’s more than just the growing conditions. We believe the environment where cocoa is grown plays an important role in the flavour of the finished chocolate.
By growing our own cocoa at Mt Edna and making chocolate right here in Mission Beach, we can capture the unique character of our Australian terroir – creating chocolate that tastes distinctly of its tropical home.
Australian grown. Mission Beach made. A taste of Far North Queensland.
Taste the difference Australian-grown cocoa makes.
Explore our range of Australian-grown, single-origin chocolates and discover the unique flavours of Far North Queensland.
From Cocoa Tree to Chocolate Bar
Chocolate made from the ground up
At Charley’s, our chocolate journey starts with the cocoa tree. Our Mt Edna cocoa is grown, harvested and processed right here in Mission Beach, giving us control over every important step along the way.
Once the cocoa pods are harvested, the beans are fermented and dried before being roasted, refined and crafted into chocolate. By keeping this process in one location, we can carefully develop the natural flavours of the cocoa and create chocolate with a true sense of place.
This is what tree-to-bar means to us – knowing where our cocoa comes from and taking care of its journey all the way to the finished chocolate bar.
From our trees at Mt Edna to your chocolate bar – every step happens right here in Mission Beach.
What makes Charley's Different?
Made in Mission Beach
Our chocolate is crafted in our factory in the heart of Far North Queensland, surrounded by the rainforest and cocoa plantations.
Tree-to-bar
We oversee the journey from cocoa pod to finished chocolate, giving us the opportunity to carefully develop the natural character of our cocoa.
Single Origin
Our single-origin chocolates celebrate the unique flavours of their cocoa, rather than blending them away.
Tropical Flavours.
We love showcasing the flavours of our region, pairing our chocolate with Australian and tropical ingredients including native fruits, macadamias and spices.
The People Behind Charley’s Chocolate
A local business with a passion for chocolate.
Charley’s Chocolate is proudly Australian owned and operated. What started with Chris and Lynn’s Jahkne dream of growing Australian cocoa has grown into a team of passionate people who share their love of chocolate, farming and the beautiful place we call home.
From tending the cocoa trees and making chocolate to welcoming visitors and packing orders, our team is involved in every part of the Charley’s experience.
We’re proud to be a small Australian business, making chocolate in Mission Beach and sharing a taste of Far North Queensland with chocolate lovers across Australia.
Award-Winning Australian Chocolate
Quality recognised in Australia and around the world
Our passion for Australian-grown cocoa has been recognised with awards in Australia and internationally.
From medals at the Australian Fine Food Awards and Sydney Royal Show to international recognition through the Cocoa of Excellence program, our cocoa and chocolate have earned recognition for their quality and distinctive flavour.
For us, the awards are a wonderful acknowledgement of the care that goes into every step – from growing and harvesting our cocoa at Mt Edna to crafting the finished chocolate in Mission Beach.
We’re proud to put Australian-grown chocolate on the world stage.
Come and Experience Charley’s Chocolate
From cocoa tree to chocolate bar – see it for yourself
There’s no better way to understand Charley’s than to see where our chocolate story begins.
Join us in Mission Beach for Australia’s only Cocoa Tree to Chocolate Bar Experience. Discover how cocoa grows, see our plantation and learn how we transform cocoa beans into delicious chocolate – with plenty of tasting along the way.
It’s a unique opportunity to experience Australian-grown cocoa right where it is grown and made.
Whether you’re visiting Mission Beach or simply curious about where your chocolate comes from, we’d love to share our story with you.
Come for the cocoa, stay for the chocolate.
LOVE CHOCOLATE?
Take a taste of Mission Beach home with you. Explore our Australian-grown and crafted chocolate range.
VISITING MISSION BEACH?
See where our chocolate story begins with Australia's only Cocoa Tree to Chocolate Bar Experience.