Today is my birthday and I would like to encourage anyone who loves chocolate or knows someone who loves chocolate to discover and support with your purchasing power, chocolate companies that support fair trade and are against child labor. It’s how we can share the love of chocolate around the world.
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Saying I love chocolate is an understatement. I adore chocolate, especially dark chocolate. It used to be that chocolate was a once-a-month craving that I would satisfy with an occasional 3 oz. bar of chocolate and that would be it – craving over. Hard to believe I know, but recently with my new found alcohol sobriety it became more of a transference of addiction. I began treating myself to an ounce, or three of chocolate every night as a treat. Something to look forward to if I didn’t have a 9 inch German Chocolate Layer Cake standing by.
Now rewind 10 years to when I went back to college to get my Bachelor’s Degree – I was enlightened by one of my professors that not all chocolate is created equal. I learned that most commercially sold chocolate involves child labor. Seriously!? In class we watched a film of children working in the fields collecting cacao pods for enough money so their families could eat that month. Children were being made to work long days, they were being robbed of their childhoods, being paid next to nothing and cheated out of an education because they had to work instead of being able to go to school.
I was abhorred but what could I do about it? I just started buying “fair trade” chocolate to satisfy my conscience. “What is fair trade?” you ask. Fair Trade is a model of sustainable and ethical practices that put people and our planet first by supporting small farms and the people that own and work them.
I am so excited to share my recent research with you. (y’all should choose some research like this..It’s the ultimate in delicious and satisfying behavior).
Three companies that push my chocolate happy buttons
This morning I had the best hot chocolate I have ever had from River-Sea Chocolates, in Chantilly, Virginia. 3 ingredients Baby! Organic Tanzanian Cacao Beans, Organic Cane Sugar and Cacao Butter over almond milk. Uh Huh! That’s what I am talking about friends. It’s pure liquid nirvana from your first sip to the end of the cup. Imagine smooth silky chocolate melting on your tongue and flowing ecstasy to the far reaches of your palate. Purely attainable and if you buy fair trade it’s sustainable. I won’t lie, It’s my newest addiction.
Another one of my new favorites is Equal Exchange Organic Dark Hot Chocolate……YUM!! It’s like drinking a warm hug that lasts for minutes. They also make chocolate chips when you need to make some chocolate chip cookies. Another one of my go to chocolate bars is Endangered Species Carmel Sea Salt +Dark Chocolate. (Disclaimer note: I have not verified that Endangered Species is child labor free but they are delicious and fair trade.).
Last but not least is Tony’s Chocolonely, weighing in at a 6.35oz bar. It’s a party bar. The thing I am most impressed about Tony’s is that they are on a quest to end modern slavery and illegal child labor in the chocolate industry. Not just their chocolate but chocolate worldwide. Uh, it’s also some really good chocolate. Check out their TedTalk below. Time to ditch the M&M’s, Snickers and Hershey’s kisses and explore how good organic, fair trade and 100% slave-free chocolate can be.
Oh! And if you already know this and love fair trade chocolate as much as me (because I’m pretty sure you can’t love it more than me) tag me with some of your favorites. I could literally bathe in chocolate if it was an option. When Easter arrives you might want to double check that I’m not the chocolate bunny before you sink your teeth into it.