Sjukla: Where Belgian Chocolate Craft Meets African Soul
Advertisement South Africa Fuses With Belgium in this Chocolaterie Advertorial Share this article Ela Van Coillie (Vosloo), founder of Sjukla, was born into a Belgian family and raised in South Africa. She later returned to Belgium to pursue professional cooking, eventually specialising in the art of Belgian chocolate making. In 2014, Van Coillie came back to South Africa, bringing with her the rich traditions of Belgian chocolaterie and a vision: to fuse the velvety elegance of Belgian chocolate with the vibrant flavours of Africa. Sjukla was born in Belgium in 2012 as a boutique chocolaterie, and today it thrives in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), where it continues to craft artisanal chocolates by hand. Every slab and truffle is tempered and decorated with care, reflecting both European finesse and local charm. Their name, Sjukla — pronounced “shu-klaa” — means “chocolate” in the dialect of West Flanders, the region from which Van Coillie’s family hails. It’s a nod to their heritage and a promise of authenticity. Truffles are their signature, offering 19 distinct flavours, each with a soft, indulgent centre and a hand-decorated shell. From classic ganaches to their beloved Rhino Rum truffles (made with locally distilled rum), every bite is designed to
