Organic chocolate is chocolate which has been certified organic. As of 2016, it was a growing sector in the global chocolate industry. Organic chocolate is a socially desirable product for some consumers. [1] [2] Major brands, such as The Hershey Company, have begun to produce organic chocolate. [3]
Sources
Many, if not most, producers of organic chocolate source their ingredients from certified fair trade cocoa farms and cooperatives. [4] Organic chocolate comes in many varieties, including milk chocolate, white chocolate, and dark chocolate. Major brands of organic chocolate include Britain-based Green & Black's, Hershey-owned Dagoba Chocolate, and Equal Exchange. [5] Less-known retailers include Taza Chocolate, Pacari Chocolate, and Sacred Chocolate, a brand noted for producing raw chocolate. [6]
Production process
The Seattle-based chocolate maker Theo Chocolate was one of the first companies that were "fair-trade certified" and produced organic chocolate. In 2006 Theo Chocolate began their production of organic chocolate, there were no solid guidelines for chocolate manufacturing at the time and they had to get the process and ingredients in the correct measurements. The main ingredient in chocolate, cocoa is found close to the equator and the majority of it is grown in Western Africa or South America. The organic cocoa, the main ingredient in organic chocolate, is sent to the chocolate factory, where it arrives in burlap sacks. The cocoa beans are then thoroughly cleaned and foreign objects are removed until just the beans remain. The manufacturer makes sure to use all organic ingredients to ensure that the final product is truly organic. [7]
See also
References
- ^ Mitch Lipka (11 February 2015). "Is organic chocolate worth the price?". Reuters. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
- ^ "Report: $19.5 billion in chocolate sales—and 20% growth in organic - 2012-05-30 - Candy Industry". Retrieved 15 March 2016.
- ^ "Dagoba Sold To Hershey's". TreeHugger. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
- ^ "Slave-Free Chocolate". Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
- ^ The Daily Green Staff (9 May 2013). "Best Organic and Fair Trade Chocolate - Fair Trade and Organic Chocolates". Good Housekeeping. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
- ^ "Can changing your diet prevent heart disease?". Fox News. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- ^ "Sweet Dreams". Emagazine.com. 2007-10-26. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
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