Photos: Artisan chocolates from the Twin Cities

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Susan Brown, who makes Mademoiselle Miel honey bon bons, decorates each chocolate by hand with edible 23 karat gold leaf Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012 in her commercial kitchen space in downtown St. Paul. Brown is also a beekeeper, and the raw honey filling comes from her rooftop apiaries in downtown St. Paul and Minneapolis. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson/Read the story) link to this photo

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Susan Brown is also a beekeeper, and the raw honey filling comes from her rooftop apiaries in downtown St. Paul and Minneapolis. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson/Read the story) link to this photo

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Each Mademoiselle Miel honey bon bon is unique because chocolatier Susan Brown decorates them by hand with edible 23 karat gold leaf. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson/Read the story) link to this photo

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A full frame of honey from one of beekeeper and chocolatier Susan Brown's rooftop apiaries in downtown St. Paul. She uses the honey to fill her Mademoiselle Miel honey bon bons. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson/Read the story) link to this photo

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Honey harvested from one of Susan Brown's rooftop apiaries, which are located in downtown St. Paul and on the Foshay Tower in Minneapolis. She uses the honey to fill her Mademoiselle Miel honey bon bons. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson/Read the story) link to this photo

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Chocolatier and beekeeper Susan Brown brushes an edible copper-colored dust onto a new flavor of Mademoiselle Miel honey bon bon, smoked scotch. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson/Read the story) link to this photo

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Mademoiselle Miel honey bon bons are available for sale in packs of three at Sugar Sugar in Minneapolis and Golden Fig Fine Foods in St. Paul. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson/Read the story) link to this photo

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Beekeeper Susan Brown modeled her hives after those found in Paris at the Luxembourg Gardens. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson/Read the story) link to this photo

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Tenor's Temptation, center, is a bestseller at Just Truffles on Grand Avenue in St. Paul. It's made from Lucianno Pavarotti's favorite flavors of milk chocolate, coconut and rum. Other favorites include a truffle made from white chocolate and champagne and the dark, bittersweet Just Chocolate truffle. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson/Read the story) link to this photo

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Mademoiselle Miel's honey bon bons are filled with local, raw honey and topped with edible 23K gold leaf. Find them at Sugar Sugar in Minneapolis and Golden Fig in St. Paul. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson/Read the story) link to this photo

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One of chocolatier B.T. McElrath's most popular chocolates is the fish-shaped Zinfandel-Balsamic truffle, which is available at Golden Fig Fine Foods on Grand Avenue in St. Paul. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson/Read the story) link to this photo

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One of St. Croix Chocolate Company's most popular chocolates is Sea Salt Caramel, center. Other flavors include lemon espresso, left, and double-dipped dark, right. Their chocolates are available at their retail store and kitchen in Marine on St. Croix. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson/Read the story) link to this photo

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The poire au cognac truffle, made with pear cognac in white ganache and covered in dark chocolate, is a favorite at Chocolate Celeste on Transfer Road in St. Paul. (MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson/Read the story) link to this photo