My Story

Hello! I’m Veronica Alvarado and I’m the owner and chocolatier of Umber Chocolates.

My chocolatier story began in 2013 when I began working at Truman Chocolates in Bryan, Texas, while attending Texas A&M University. Over the next four years, I learned how to handcraft bonbons and so much more from owner Mitch Siegert, whom I now consider a great friend and mentor.

Shortly after graduation, I left the chocolate world to pursue a career as a content writer and then as a project manager. My career took me from a small town in Texas to Michigan, then finally to Pittsburgh, PA, the city I now call home.

Even a few years removed from the world of chocolate, I never stopped thinking about the creativity and joy I felt while creating and selling bonbons.

In fact, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that everyone was right, it is a pretty sweet job and I missed it! With a push from my fiancé, Adam Molitor, I was able to start making chocolates again for fun and was able to experience that joy again. There is just something so beautiful about creating an edible piece of art that people could share and enjoy together.

I made the leap.

Umber Chocolates started in 2022 as a crazy idea and a total leap of faith, but something I’ve learned is…

When you know, you know.