Sweet Mona’s Chocolate

Built on a firm foundation of passion, experience, and desire, Mona Newbauer creates extraordinary, small batch confections to sweeten the world. Mona herself is a sweet and beautiful soul. She lives on Whidbey with her husband and their two Boston Terriers, Bonnie and Brooklyn. Her chocolate boutique, Sweet Mona’s, has been a Langley staple for 15 years.

We asked Mona a series of questions about her business and life. Read on to learn more about one of your local producers!   

When & where did you learn to make chocolate? 

Mona is both a graduate of Ecole Chocolat in Vancouver, BC and a self-taught chocolatier. She began her chocolate making journey in her very own kitchen back in 2003 with zero experience and a handful of truffle recipes from the internet. With passion, dedication, and focus, she acquired the knowledge and skills to make the best tasting chocolates & candies.

Why did you start Sweet Mona’s? 

Sweet Mona’s began with a simple idea that came from Mona’s son, who encouraged her to make truffles for the Langley bakery where he worked at the time. He suggested to the bakery owners that his mom make chocolates for the bakery to give out with meals. The truffles began to gain popularity among community members and that prompted Mona to start ramping up production. Shortly after, she rented a commercial kitchen and made truffles to sell at the Bayview Farmers Market. What started as a casual endeavor quickly took off and has flourished over the years into a full blown retail & wholesale business. With the support of the community, Sweet Mona’s has become a favorite among islanders and a destination for visitors from all over the world. Her sweet treats are truly extraordinary. We sure are lucky to have her.  

What is your favorite treat from Sweet Mona’s? 

The sticky candies - Toffee & Caramels

In addition to hand made chocolates, toffee, caramels, and candies, Sweet Mona’s has gelato and espresso - all the best treats under one roof!

What products are you offering through the hub? 

Chocolate covered almonds, chocolate covered caramels, smooth rich fudge, old fashioned nut brittles, old fashioned caramels, and chocolate bars! 

How has the food hub impacted your business? 

The food hub has been an excellent avenue for Mona to sell through during the pandemic. In addition, Sweet Mona’s presence on the hub has allowed her to reach customers from the north end of the island who otherwise would not make it to her shop in downtown Langley. 

What do you like most about the food hub? 

Mona appreciates that the food hub sells various products made by local food artisans, apart from the items you would expect to find like fresh fruits and vegetables. It took her by surprise when WIGC requested she sell her chocolates as hub offerings. She stated that she enjoys selling among other talented farmers and producers on the island.   

Community Support

Mona encourages everyone to believe in themselves and make their dreams come true. If you have an idea, talk about it as much as you can. Tell people about it. Never give up, and you can make it happen. She is always here to help anyone who comes her way, and support others in making their dreams and projects happen (like the Food Hub!).

Fun Facts about Mona:

Favorite song: “Happy” by Pharrell Williams

Favorite meal: Spaghetti with meat sauce & garlic bread

Hobbies outside of chocolate-making: Drawing & playing Yahtzee with her husband

Favorite spot(s) on the island: Fort Ebey and The Woods

Favorite Movies: Ever After & The Green Mile

You can visit Sweet Mona’s Chocolate Boutique in Langley at 221 Second Street #16. The shop is open daily from 11am-5pm, with pick-up service and delivery options available. Sweet Mona’s delivers all over the world from their website here, and shop her offerings on the Food Hub here.

Producer Feature by Rachel Joseph