Matcha Made In Heaven: Karen Walker & WCF Unveil Pistachio Chocolate Collab

Wellington, 9 October 2025 - Matcha and chocolate might be an unlikely pairing, but they’re the latest Karen Walker x Wellington Chocolate Factory creation, with pistachios dipped in Pacific origin chocolate and dusted in matcha to create the limited edition Matcha Milk Chocolate Pistachios launching today.

The sixth collaboration between the designer and New Zealand’s original bean-to-bar craft chocolate maker is described as a rare treat, featuring cocoa ethically sourced from Vanuatu through WCF’s Grower Partner Programme. Walker’s Animal Kingdom print has also been reimagined as the release’s artwork.

Karen Walker says each collaboration is an opportunity to bring her and WCF’s worlds together to create a new, one-of-a-kind experience each year.

“I’ve always been chocolate-obsessed, so working with WCF has been pure joy. In creating each new collaboration since 2020, we’ve taken inspiration from many forms: a print, an ingredient that captures the imagination or the desire to create something fun.

“Animal Kingdom led us to make something lush and unexpected for 2025, which Matcha Milk Chocolate Pistachios delivers,” she says.

Wellington Chocolate Factory co-founder Gabe Davidson describes the new offering as elegant, balanced and bold.

“Our collaborations with Karen Walker’s team are a chance for us to play with flavour in unexpected ways; this year, we’ve discovered that matcha and milk chocolate are a natural pairing. Each pistachio delivers a gentle crunch and sweetness, which is then quickly followed by the bright, earthy finish of the matcha as our lush chocolate slowly melts away.

For Davidson, who sailed to the Pacific in a traditional vaka in 2015 to source their first locally grown beans, he says it’s now their mission to showcase on-trend flavours alongside the region’s unique flavour profiles.

“Cocoa grown in the Pacific is truly one of a kind and is the source of endless inspiration for us. A year ago, we shifted the majority of our supply to the region, and to see our farmers' cocoa transformed into offerings like Matcha Milk Chocolate Pistachios is incredibly rewarding for us, and them,” he says.

Volco has created two limited-edition pastries to celebrate the launch, which will be available at WCF’s Eva Street Factory from 10 to 12 October - Savoury Pistachio Filo, featuring goats' cheese, wild weed, pistachio and honey, and a Pain au Pistachio, featuring pistachios and WCF’s signature dark chocolate.

Karen Walker and WCF have also hidden three Golden Tickets in packs sold at Moore Wilson’s, Farro Fresh, and in-store and online at WCF, offering a $500 shopping experience at Karen Walker stores. WCF is also giving away one year’s worth of chocolate in an Instagram giveaway.

Matcha Milk Chocolate Pistachios can be purchased from Karen Walker stores, WCF’s Eva Street store, online at both WCF and Karen Walker’s websites and from selected retailers, including Moore Wilson’s in Wellington and Farro Fresh in Auckland.

About Wellington Chocolate Factory

Small but mighty with a dream of creating a better-tasting world, Wellington Chocolate Factory makes some of the world’s highest-quality, ethical chocolate, guaranteed to take you on a taste adventure from first bite. Working to ensure a sweeter future for those growing their cocoa beans, WCF is New Zealand’s original bean-to-bar chocolate maker. Based in Eva Street, Wellington, they offer tours choc-full of chocolate goodness and the opportunity to watch the bean-to-bar magic happen at their delicious factory. To find out more, visit www.wcf.co.nz

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