Hidden Holiday Gems: Van Otis Truffles

Occasionally, the town has the pleasure of welcoming a new business. Recently, that pleasure was a sweet one.

Van Otis Truffles are an indulgence to satisfy your own sweet tooth, or they can make a delightfully delicious gift. The gift of chocolate can be a wonderful choice for teachers, friends, family and coworkers. Corporate gifts have also become a big part of Van Otis Truffles' success.

Van Otis Truffles comes to North Andover from Lawrence, where the McCarthy family had been producing chocolates for 35 years. Jack and Mary Lou McCarthy first purchased the business in Boston. They later moved to Lawrence and now, this past September, relocated to North Andover at 27 Main St.

Today the business is run by Jack and Mary Lou’s daughters, Ann Marie Paul and Patricia Sapienza.

At one time the McCarthy family produced 100 different varieties of chocolate but later chose to specialize in their best-selling Swiss Truffles. Each cut of Van Otis Truffle is a small square piece of rich, pure chocolate much like the center filling you’d find in a typical round truffle.

Van Otis Truffles come in the following flavors:

• Milk Chocolate Plain
• Milk Chocolate with Pecans
• Dark Chocolate Plain
• Dark Chocolate with Pecans
• White Chocolate Plain
• White Chocolate with Pecans
• Diabetic Milk Chocolate Plain
• Diabetic Milk Chocolate with Pecans

A one pound box is $18, a half pound box is $9, and a 4-piece favor is $3.

Word of mouth has kept the Van Otis Truffles business alive and steadily growing.

“It’s incredible what word of mouth has done for our business,” said Paul. “I probably ship to every single state.”

The loyal customer following has been exceptional throughout the years. One long-term customer is celebrating her 100^th birthday this year in Kingsport, Tenn. She has remained a faithful customer since the businesses early years in Lawrence and is having Van Otis Truffles shipped to Tennessee to make her celebration complete.

“We’ve been so lucky with the customers we’ve had that have gone out of their way to find us and stay with us,” said Paul. “I love this business, people are always coming in happy.”

Van Otis Truffles is open daily Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. After Valentine’s Day, they will be closed on Mondays. Two weeks after Mother’s Day, they close through the summer.

To learn more visit www.vanotistruffles.com or call 978-687-1401.