Ika Cohen’s deep passion for chocolate led her to ditch her job as a television sound technician, pack her bags and set off to study with some of France’s finest chocolatiers, including luminaries like Jacques Genin, Michel Chaudun, and Patrick Roger. After honing her craft as the in-house chocolatier at Reviva and Celia patisserie, she established Ika Chocolate, an artisanal factory and shop in the heart of south Tel Aviv in 2011. Here, passersby can peer through its glass windows to witness the chocolate-making process.
In the shop, Cohen presents an array of delectable offerings, from pralines and marmalades to chocolate cigars, bars, and what she calls “cat’s tongues” — slender chocolate fingers with various fillings, paying homage to the beloved Katzenzungen candy. Over the years, her exceptional pralines including ones made with sesame and lemon and another with za’atar have earned accolades in international chocolate competitions.

A chocolate bar, Photo: Noam Preisman

Oren Assif explains: “Much like the factory shop itself, Ika’s pralines exude a lack of pretense or flamboyance. The spotlight is solely on their outstanding taste and texture and the flavor combinations distinctly echo the local cuisine. Ika’s ability to craft harmonious flavor profiles and her impeccable technical prowess in working with chocolate set her apart from other chocolatiers in Israel.”

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