Jane Swayne was devastated when her children’s charity lost its funding. But she found another path and passion – and became a professional chocolatier
At 62, Jane Swayne ate a chocolate that would change her life. On a visit to see her daughter, who was working in The Hague in 2013, the Somerset-based charity worker decided to buy a box of chocolates to bring home as a present for her husband. “I found a chocolatier who made these amazing sea salt and tarragon chocolates,” she says. “I ate one and realised I hadn’t tried anything like it before. I never liked chocolate as a child but this was miraculous. I decided I had to try to recreate them when I got home – one box wouldn’t be enough.”
Swayne’s husband, John, was equally enthusiastic and encouraged her. “I’ve always loved cooking but I had never tried making chocolate before,” she says. “I realised it’s a very labour-intensive process but ultimately quite simple, mainly relying on the use of fresh herbs like the tarragon. After a few tries, I had a decent version of my own.”
