Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! The Sweetest State Confections is proudly woman-owned and operated, based in Raleigh, North Carolina. We operate an online shop, are sold in local stores and boutiques and participate in Farmers Markets and Special Events. We take pride in supporting our community and partnering with local organizations, where you can find our handcrafted chocolate confections at our Chocolate Cart.  For information about these events and to learn more about The Sweetest State Confections, we invite you to visit our Locations page.  

A mendiant (men-dee-ahnt, French pronunciation: [mɑ̃.djɑ̃]) is a traditional French confection with a rich history, consisting of a chocolate disk adorned with nuts and dried fruits. The term "mendiant," meaning "beggar," refers to the four mendicant monastic orders that took vows of poverty and begged for charity. Historically, each fruit and nut on the mendiant represents one of these orders and their robe colors: almonds for the Dominicans (white), raisins for the Franciscans (gray), hazelnuts for the Carmelites (brown), and dried figs for the Augustinians (purple). These ingredients not only symbolize the items the monks traditionally begged for but also reflect the colors of the robes worn by each group of friars during the Middle Ages, making each mendiant a tribute to their heritage.

Much like the traditional mendiants that reflect the history and monastic heritage of France, our mendiants are thoughtfully crafted to embody the distinct flavors and unique stories of each state, celebrating their regional tastes and traditions.

Our chocolate confections are crafted without added preservatives, stabilizers, high-fructose corn syrup, or glucose syrup. Our unique custom compound blends are sourced from Italy and offer a rich and silky cocoa flavor. As our custom blend chocolate confections are designed to be delicate, please take extra care, ideally keeping them in a cool dry place (between 55-65°F). 

Orders are shipped with an insulated liner and cold pack to prevent melting during transportation. 

If purchasing from a local market, please use the same care with your selected items.

We recommend enjoying your chocolate confections within 45 days of purchase to experience them at their best.

Yes! Our chocolate confections are very sensitive to temperature being too hot or cold. If exposed to these conditions, it may cause the chocolate to "bloom". This is perfectly safe to eat and is a cosmetic issue and not a safety issue. 

A chocolate bloom is a whitish-grey film or streaks that can discolor or dull the surface of the chocolate. It is very common and is simply the cocoa butter or fat within the chocolate rising to the surface. 

Please take extra care with transporting or storing your chocolates, ideally keeping them in a cool dry place (between 55-65°F).

Many of our products contain peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, and/or wheat (gluten). Our chocolate confections are made within a North Carolina Department of Agriculture-certified home processor kitchen, using shared equipment and utensils, and pose the risk of allergen cross-contact. Therefore, we can not guarantee our chocolates are entirely free of these allergenic ingredients. 

We import our color pigments from Australia, where food dye regulations are stricter, allowing only select ingredients. Each shade is then hand-mixed into our chocolates, creating the perfect, vibrant hue.

As we continue to craft new chocolate confections, ingredient details will be added accordingly.

Review Ingredients/Allergen Information

Yes, and we would be delighted to be a part of your special event! Whether you're seeking wedding favors crafted in the couple's home State or custom-tailored event gifts, we are ready to help make your occasion memorable.  

Please reach us at explore@thesweeteststate.com, for more information. 

We are honored to share in your sweet journey!

We have these questions and more information available on our Shipping Information page. Please be sure to review this information before placing your order, and we are happy to help with any additional questions you may have!

As we offer hand-crafted perishable consumable products, to maintain the highest safety and quality standards we cannot offer exchanges or returns. We strive to provide you with the best experience, and if for any reason you are unhappy with your order, please contact us immediately and we will work with you to help ensure your chocolate journey is sweet!