Spreading joy: Brandon Busch, center, stands with two employees at the factory’s small shop. [/caption]

According to many experts, chocolate has a variety of health benefits. Depending on the chocolate, these benefits range from lowering blood pressure to decreasing heart disease and enhancing mood.

Chocolate began as a frothy drink and its beans were used as currency in Central America. Thanks to European explorers’ world travels, chocolate became a popular delicacy at court and a staple at various events.

A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of spending the morning at Lift Chocolates. Upon entering the facility, the sweet smell of chocolate and the display in the front store were enough to instill joy in me.

Though I didn’t wrap chocolates Like Lucy and Ethel did in I Love Lucy, there was plenty to be excited about.

Owner of Lift Chocolates, Brandon Busch, has a background as a CH-53 Heavy “Lift” helicopter pilot in the United States Marine Corps, which later inspired the name for his chocolate business.

During his downtime, Busch read every culinary and pastry textbook he could. After active duty, Busch attended pastry school in Boulder, Colorado, his hometown. That is where he fell in love with chocolate. Lucky for Boulder!

By 2015, Busch began Lift Chocolates out of his home kitchen. Two years later, Lift found a home after purchasing Concertos in Chocolate. Today, Lieutenant Colonel Busch continues to serve in the Marine Corps Reserve as a Forward Air Controller, Gold Wing Parachutist, and planner in an Operational Level Fires Cell.

As I toured the facility and spoke briefly to some of Lift’s employees, it didn’t take long to realize that there is something special at Lift Chocolates that goes beyond just chocolates. I discovered Lift prides itself on presenting chocolate products unlike anything else on the market.

Lift regularly donates to organizations supporting veterans and their families, schools, animal rescues, and hospitals in underprivileged countries. To say Lift Chocolates is giving new meaning to chocolate is an understatement.

It’s no surprise Lift Chocolates has been mentioned in some of the nation’s most reputable media outlets, including the Food Network, Forbes, and Country Living, to name a few.

Lieutenant Colonel Busch, thank you for your service, and thank you for the chocolates!

Lift Chocolates is located at 6395 Gunpark Drive, Suite R, Boulder. You can find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/liftchocolate/, or you can call them at 303-447-1001.