D’Kawi Chocolate Shoppe Langkawi and Chocolate Factory

Over the years I’ve become a big fan of more unique life and travel experiences, therefore I’m always on the lookout for interesting things to see and do. When I spotted a flyer offering a chocolate making tour in Langkawi, Malaysia, I most certainly had to know more. Langkawi is widely known for duty-free chocolate shopping, but D’Kawi Chocolate Shoppe follows a different path from the large retail outlets commonly found on the island.

Rather than operating primarily as a retail shop, D’Kawi is centered around small-scale chocolate production and hands-on chocolate making activities. The kilang coklat (chocolate factory) also offers chocolate making tours for small groups, giving visitors an opportunity to see part of the production process and learn more about chocolate making in Langkawi.

Making Chocolate at D’Kawi Chocolate Shoppe

I had never personally seen chocolate candy made before, so I was quite excited to learn about the D’Kawi Chocolate making tours. In fact, I booked one within the week.

I was pleasantly surprised that they do actually make their own chocolate from scratch, and it’s genuinely very good. The small but well-organized layout of the house cum factory made the production process fascinating to watch. Getting my hands a bit sticky while making my own dozen or so chocolates was also an eye-opening and fun experience.

We first used molds to make the base chocolate shell (called ‘molding’), then filled the shells with a Dubai-style mixture of pistachio and roasted kataifi (crispy, shredded filo pastry). After that, I got to slather on a top layer of chocolate, tap out the bubbles, and voila. Once the chocolate was cooled and set properly, it looked just like professionally made chocolate candy from a store.

I impressed myself with my sudden chocolate making talent, a proud moment, for sure.
(Can watch my Instagram Reel HERE)

From D’Kawi Chocolate Hut to Today

Founded in the 1990s by Haji Salehuddin Idris, D’Kawi Chocolate Shoppe was originally known as D’Kawi Chocolate Hut and Langkapura Food. While the business had long been involved in chocolate retail and distribution in Langkawi, the next generation later expanded the company further into small-scale chocolate production and chocolate making tours under the direction of his son, Shahrin Ariff, at its current location in Kuah.

Using cocoa and chocolate materials supplied from Selangor, D’Kawi now produces its own range of chocolate products locally, including chocolate-covered almonds and Dubai-style chocolate inspired by modern confectionery trends.

Fun fact: In 2022, the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) and the Malaysian Cocoa Board even organized a handmade chocolate entrepreneur development course at the D’Kawi premises. The program included chocolate tempering, molding, coating techniques, and handmade chocolate production.

A Must Try Experience in Langkawi

Today, D’Kawi Chocolate continues as a family-run chocolate business that combines local production, visitor experiences, and nearly three decades of history in Langkawi. This chocolate making tour is a unique opportunity for locals as well as foreign visitors and I highly recommend.