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| - Betsy Ann is a great Pittsburgh tradition in chocolate. This small quaint and cute chocolate "factory store" is a sweet gem in the also-quaint-and-kind-of-cute West View neighborhood (technically, West View is a city on its own). This is the factory store where they make, sample, and sell the chocolates. The store has delicious dark chocolate and milk chocolate, both truffles and bars. They also have a variety of chocolate-based and chocolate-related gift items (especially themed for holidays), sugar-free chocolates, and a limited selection of nuts. You will likely enjoy looking at the different varieties of "chocolate art" present in the store that you can actually buy and eat.
Betsy Ann's chocolates are on the tender side. Even their dark chocolate truffles and bars feel soft. If you are a *strongly dark* chocolate fan like me, you might be skeptical of this at first, but give the dark truffles a try and you will probably enjoy them melting in your mouth (don't bite, of course, just let them slowly melt) as I did. The chocolate is pure and very rich in flavor. I especially like the dark chocolate truffles and the amaretto truffles, but their liquor truffles are also delicious. The sugar-free chocolate is tasty as well if you can handle the sweetener; Betsy Ann's sugar-free is better than many other brands'.
The store is cute and the staff are very friendly. They will give you samples, describe their chocolates, and talk about the store (if you ask).
Betsy Ann Chocolate "Factory Store" is a must go if you are in West View. Even if you are not, make an excuse to visit the place if you have the time. I would recommend stopping by the Riverview Park and the Allegheny Observatory to sample the rich history and the wonderful natural beauty of the area while you are there. Now that's a thought -- a chocolate walk at the Riverview Park.
In short, go there, enjoy good chocolate, and support a sweet and friendly local business.
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