Mastering the Art of Chocolate Crafting
A Conversation with Gaylene Steinbach and 55+ Magazine
From her earliest memories, Gaylene Steinbach, owner of Lulubee Artisanal Chocolates in Lincoln, appreciated the sweet smells and tastes of handmade chocolates. Every Christmas her mother would make chocolates for family and friends. The process was a labor of love as she took out a large marble slab and placed it in a room, making sure the window was cracked just enough to get the temperature right. Then she’d go about preparing the chocolate: heating it, pouring it on the slab, letting it cool, then mixing it until it got into the right temper. The insides were like a delicate fondant filling, with all sorts of marvelous flavors. She would carefully dip each piece by hand, then add a beautifully-drawn cursive letter on top to suggest the flavor inside. Her mother’s love and artistry stayed with Gaylene over the years.
It’s no surprise that Gaylene found that same passion years later. We sat down with her to learn about her journey to becoming a chocolatier.
When did your journey to becoming a chocolatier begin?
I’ve always been a lover of chocolate. After returning back to the States from living in the Philippines, my mom gifted me a beautiful box of chocolates. I’d never seen such beauty, and the bonbons left me speechless. I couldn’t imagine how they punched so much flavor into these tiny morsels. It really piqued my interest so I started reading everything I could find on chocolate crafting and flavors, then I started experimenting.
In 2013, I realized my desire and passion for this craft and that led me to experiment at home, sharing my creations with family and friends. They all encouraged me to turn my passion into a business. I attended a couple of workshops and even met the woman who had made those beautiful chocolates that my mother had given me years before. (She has become a mentor and a very important part of my life.) I also took a Food Industry class at UNL’s Innovation Campus. I knew I needed a professional kitchen to sell products and they helped guide me on packaging, running the business, etc. I leased my first retail space in Lincoln in 2014. By 2020, I had outgrown that space and moved to our current location at 5720 Hidcote Drive in Lincoln.
What inspires you to create these delicate masterpieces?
My daughter Lauren has been my right-hand since the very beginning, even before I started the business. It’s a joy to get to work with her every day. She’s the one who comes up with the design concepts. We look for inspiration all around us and we create our own unique designs.
Have there been triumphs with certain flavors?
My mint leaf bonbon was one of my first flavors and I still go, “Yeah!” Lemon was another one. I am a citrus person and it took me a long time to tweak it and then it was, “Yep. Done, Done!” Sea Salt Caramel was another, “Done, Done!”
You’ve won some awards. How does that feel?
This past spring, we submitted a couple of vegan bonbons in an international competition and did quite well. Our Strawberry Rhubarb won Gold and our Almond Caramel Crunch received Silver, both in the vegan category. We are super proud of our chocolates and of the recognition!
How do you experience fine chocolate?
My intention is to create a mindful, really beautiful tasting experience. Tasting fine chocolate is very similar to tasting a fine wine. You want to smell it, then taste it. Give yourself time to enjoy it. There will be different flavors if you let it rest on the roof of your mouth with your tongue pressed up against it. Breathing out is when you will experience most of the chocolate's flavors. These are adult experiences to enjoy, so do that for yourself!
It’s been a delicious journey for Gaylene. What started as a passion and love of the craft has evolved from a hobby to a life's work. Creating divine chocolates that bring joy to others is her gift year round.
Gaylene’s Picks for Holiday Gifts
Lulubee Artisanal Chocolates is best known for their bonbons. A box of beautifully designed bonbons with flavors that excite your senses makes a fantastic gift. Special holiday bonbons this year include:
Hot Chocolate
Cherry Pistachio
Fig & PortGingerbread Caramel
Peppermint Crunch
If you’re looking for something uniquely
different, go for the Cocoa Bomb (milk, dark,
and gold chocolate), Salted Caramel Cocoa Bomb, Cinnamon Bears or Candied Ginger Dipped in Chocolate.
For the person who loves Advent calendars, they’ve created one that is filled with all of their holiday pieces!
Sea Salt Caramels and Pecan Turtles both make fabulous gifts. And, their toffee should come with a warning label: Addictive!
Stop by the store or order online at lulubeechocolates.com