Handmade Chocolates. What and Why.

FAIR TRADE  -   It is estimated that 1/3 of commercially sold chocolate has been touched by slave labor!  Because of the regions in which chocolate grows, these unpaid laborers are often children.  The chocolate industry, much like coffee, sugar, and hard drugs, is controlled by powerful cartels.  By choosing the best tasting fair trade chocolates as my chocolate base, I am hoping to create a chocolate experience of heightened awareness, that does not feed beastly interests.


100% VEGAN  -   This choice is effortless, as chocolate and sweetness come from the plant kingdom.  Europeans introduced dairy to chocolate, and dairy-chocolate is now a common find.  I add pure cacao butter when I want to increase the creaminess of a chocolate; organic coconut oil replaces butter in the pralines, truffles, and toffees.


SUPERFOODS   -  With every ingredient choice, I find the most nutrient-rich, fresh and natural option.  There is more than just a "chocolate boost" going on....

- Organic Virgin Coconut Oil is considered a health supplement.(in fact, it is really great!)         It is a rare and beneficial medium chain fatty acid, and is antiviral, antifungal(kills yeast), and antibacterial.  Too much good stuff to be said about it here.  I find it to be delicious.

- Agave Nectar is my primary sweetener in all the fillings. 

- Maca Root is a tasty superfood ingredient, used in the Maca Fudge, Maca Macadamia, Pecan Maca chocolates, and Superfudge.  It gives a grounding, body-centered energy boost.  As a root vegetable, it is naturally more 'yang', a perfect balance to the 'yin' energy of chocolate.  Maca helps to rebuild weak immune systems, remineralizes undernourished bodies, increases endurance, and as an adaptogen, helps to balance hormonal levels.  It has a unique flavor; rich, sweet, and nutty...some say it tastes like graham.  I like to add it to my chocolate as if it were malt.

- Spirulina is a microscopic blue-green algae, and one of the most comprehensive dietary supplements from the natural world ever found.  It is unusually high in complete protein(containing all essential amino acids), as well as vitamins, essential fatty acids, and minerals.  I blend just the right amount into the superfudge recipe... spirulina adds a dark richness to chocolate!

- Sea Salt  - One of the simplest and most powerful health actions one can take is choosing the right salt.  'Table salt' is mineral salt which has been heated and processed to remove all trace minerals other than sodium chloride.  Iodine must then be added, as well as anticaking minerals and glucose...an attempt at restoring the balance stripped away by processing.

  Our bodies need many more mineral salts than just sodium chloride.  Sea salt contains sodium chloride, as well as hundreds of other trace minerals.  Himalayan salt comes unprocessed from the base of the Himalayas, and it's natural mineral balance gives it a lovely pink color and soft/salty flavor.  I use these two salts to add balance to my nutty chocolate flavors.

  Used properly, good salt mineralizes and alkalizes our body.


ORGANICS -  In the most affected ingredients(peanut butter, raspberries, etc), I always choose organics.  Many other ingredients are organic, such as the coconut oil and agave nectar.  In every case, I choose the freshest, most naturally produced nuts and flavorings I can find.  Although not every ingredient is always certified organic, I use common sense, as well as my knowledge of food industries to pick the most natural and clean foods.  Nothing artificial, ever.