Chocolate is one of the world’s most beloved sweets, enjoyed by millions of people around the globe every day. But have you ever stopped to think about the ingredients that go into making your favorite chocolate bar? One ingredient that you might not have heard of is soy lecithin. But what is soy lecithin, and why is it sometimes used in chocolate? In this blog post, we will explore the ins and outs of this common food additive and its role in chocolate production. What is Soy Lecithin Soy lecithin is a type of emulsifier derived from soybeans. Emulsifiers are substances that help to mix two o ..read more

Chocolate is a popular food that has been enjoyed for centuries. From its humble beginnings as a bitter drink in ancient civilizations, to the decadent confections we know today, chocolate has come a long way. Here are some interesting facts about chocolate that you may not have known. 1. Chocolate Comes From a Bean Chocolate starts its journey as a bean from the cacao tree, which is native to Central and South America. The cacao tree produces pods, which contain the cacao beans. The beans are harvested by hand and then fermented and dried to bring out their rich, chocolatey flavor. After this ..read more

Many of us enjoy indulging in chocolate, but have you ever wondered if it’s safe for wildlife to consume it? In particular, many people are curious about whether deer can eat chocolate. In this blog post, we’ll explore the effects of chocolate on deer and other wildlife, and what you can do to protect the animals in your community. The Effects of Chocolate on Deer Chocolate contains theobromine, a stimulant that is toxic to many animals, including deer. If a deer consumes a large enough amount of chocolate, it can cause symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, rapid heart rate, seizures, and even ..read more

With the right chocolatier tools, you can make your own delicious chocolates right in your own kitchen! All you need is a few basic pieces of equipment and some ingredients. What are the benefits of making chocolates at home Making chocolates at home is a fun and rewarding experience, and there are several benefits to doing so. Here are just a few of them: It’s cheaper than buying chocolates from a store. You can customize the chocolates to your own taste. It’s a fun activity to do with friends or family. You can experiment with different flavors and ingredients. So if you’re looking for a f ..read more

Chances are you’ve probably seen the Fairtrade logo on different products in your supermarket, including chocolate. But what does Fairtrade really mean when it comes to chocolate? In this article we answer all questions from what it is and the benefits of Fairtrade chocolate. What is Fairtrade chocolate? Fairtrade chocolate is made from cocoa beans that have been grown and harvested in a way that meets certain environmental and economic standards set by the Fairtrade Foundation. These standards include ensuring that farmers are paid a fair price for their cocoa, providing good working conditio ..read more

Do you love chocolate? Who doesn’t, right? The problem is that if you don’t store it properly, it can bloom and lose its taste. In this blog post, we will teach you how to store chocolate so that it stays fresh and delicious for as long as possible! 1. Don’t keep your chocolate in the fridge Although you might be tempted, resist any urges to keep your chocolate in the fridge! Here are two reasons why:  Chocolate will absorb the aromas of the fridge. The cocoa butter in chocolate is great at soaking up any nearby odours. So if you’ve got cheese, fish, onions or really any other food items ..read more

Have you ever unraveled an old bar of chocolate only to find it having a slightly white color? Chances are the chocolate had bloomed. But what does that mean? In this blog post, we will discuss what chocolate bloom is, what causes it and how to avoid it. We will also cover whether or not chocolate bloom is safe to eat.  So, if you want to learn everything there is to know about chocolate bloom, keep reading! What is chocolate bloom? Chocolate bloom is when chocolate has a dusty white, sometimes marbled, appearance. Although chocolate bloom is completely harmless, it can make your chocolat ..read more

Chocolate is booming. The world’s desire for chocolate is forecasted to grow by nearly USD 20 billion over the next five years. To meet this rising global demand for chocolate, pristine forests and grasslands are being cleared to make way for monoculture cacao farms. Cacao farming is one of the leading causes of deforestation in many parts of West Africa and South America. In 2017, The Guardian reported that 80% of rainforest cover in the Ivory Coast has disappeared, largely due to cacao farming.  However, chocolate doesn’t have to come with a bittersweet aftertaste at the cost of the pl ..read more

Tempering chocolate is a crucial stage in working with chocolate, both for bean to bar makers and chocolatiers. It’s notorious for being both tricky but essential to master!⁠ Not sure where to start? In this post we will explain what tempering chocolate means and show you how to temper chocolate at home. What does it mean to temper chocolate? Tempering chocolate is the process of raising and lowering its temperature to alter the crystal formation of the chocolate. Why is it done? Because chocolate that’s tempered has a glossy look and distinctive snapping sound when it’s broken. The word ‘temp ..read more

Chocolate has made its way to supermarket shelves in close to every country around the world. Yet, not many people actually know the history of chocolate, or even how it’s made. The history of chocolate is a long and complicated one, spanning thousands of years and involving many different cultures. In this post, we’ll take you through a brief timeline of some of the key events in the history of chocolate. 3000 BCE In 2018, a research paper published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution re-wrote the history of chocolate by suggesting that cacao was consumed by humans 1,500 years earlier ..read more