Argentina provided the inspiration for Alba Conti and her partner Robin Elks to establish their Heavenly Chocolate business just outside Girraween National Park some 6 years ago.

While travelling in the southern Andes in Alba's home country they were struck by the number of chocolate shops in world famous ski centres like San Carlos de Bariloche and San Martin de los Andes. This was probably not strange considering the influx of migrants from Switzerland and Germany to this spectacular region of Argentina many years ago.

The seed was sown, and the Granite Belt is now the home of the only dedicated chocolate shop in the region.

After completing chocolate making courses with both French and Belgian chocolatiers, Alba has developed a superb line of hand made chocolates using imported Belgian couverture and the finest local ingredients.

Many visitors regularly come from Brisbane or the Gold and Sunshine Coasts for their chocolate fix.

"I have only exchanged one kind of mud for another", jokes Alba, who is also a potter. But what heavenly mud it is.