While all chocolate is technically bean to bar, we use the term to describe someone who buys raw cocoa beans and makes it into finished chocolate products.
Product FAQs
What does Bean-to-Bar mean?
What does the percentage mean? (example 72% Belize)
For us, since we use just two ingredients it’s a simple ratio by weight of cocoa nibs to sugar. The percentage refers to the amount of cocoa in a given product.
What is Single Origin Chocolate?
Basically, it means that all the cocoa in a particular bar comes from a SINGLE estate or a SINGLE co-op from a particular region; it defines where the cocoa comes from geographically.
Does my chocolate contain any of the following? Soy, Gluten, Dairy or Nuts?
We take great care in trying to provide allergen isolation and go to great pains to minimize allergen contamination each step of the chocolate making process. Being a small batch producer, it allows us to isolate machinery used for particular products and thoroughly clean between uses. That being said, there is potential for cross contamination.
What kind of Cacao Beans do you use?
Typically, cacao has been classified into three main varietals; Trinitario, Forestario, Criollo. Current research in cacao genetics actually indicate that there is vastly more diversity in the types of genetic varietals of cacao, not just limited to three and possibly more than ten. For us the bottom line is always flavor, we don’t purchase cacao based on genetic claims. We let the flavor of the cacao dictate what we buy.
What kind of sugar do you use?
We use the highest quality (vegan) organic cane sugar in all our products. We source from the Green Cane Project in Brazil which ethically and sustainably produces cane sugar.
Can you please explain “Tasting Notes”?
The ‘Tasting Notes’ are flavors you may notice while tasting each chocolate. Similar to tasting notes in wine, these flavors are coming from the cocoa bean itself. No additional flavors have been added. They are listed as AROMA/FLAVOR/FINISH. Give it a try and see what you taste.
Is your chocolate certified organic?
We are not a certified organic facility. We do buy certified organic cacao where we can and only use certified organic cane sugar. We make every effort to buy and use organic ingredients where we can, but flavor is the main thing that we are after.
Is your chocolate certified fair trade?
We are not certified fair trade. We do, however, pay tremendous premiums for the cacao that we buy. The most important thing for us is a high level of transparency throughout the supply web. Close relationships with all our suppliers help to ensure a high level of equity to all involved parties from cocoa growers to finished chocolate consumers.
Why is your chocolate and other craft chocolate so much more expensive than the chocolate commonly found in grocery stores?
There are many factors that affect the price of our chocolate bars. One of the main reasons is the cost of the raw ingredients are very high, as well as the labor that goes into making chocolate on such a small scale. The only way to make it sustainable, is that the bar has to cost more. In order to adequately pay farmers a reasonable living wage, as well as the craftspeople that make the chocolate, the finished bar price must reflect the cost of production.
What is the difference between a Chocolate Maker vs a Chocolatier?
A chocolate maker is somebody that is buying cocoa beans and then performing all the steps to make finished chocolate themselves. A Chocolatier buys and re-melts already produced chocolate to make into confections and flavored bars etc.
Shipping & Returns
How much does shipping cost?
We charge the actual rates of mail carriers, but in the summer, there is an additional $6 fee in order to cover the costs of the insulation materials that keep your chocolate safe during the warmer months. Orders $55+ will receive free shipping.
When will you ship my order?Spring and Summer: We aim to ship orders within 2-3 business days. To ensure timely delivery and avoid packages sitting in warehouses, we prioritize shipping early in the week, with orders placed from Wednesday to Friday typically shipping on Monday or Tuesday. However, depending on weather conditions and your destination, we reserve the right to ship on any day of the week. If the weather is too hot to ship safely, we may hold your order until conditions improve.
Fall and Winter: Orders will typically ship within 3-5 business days.
How long will it take to receive my order?
-- West Coast takes 2-4 business days
-- Central States & East Coast takes 3-6 business days
-- Central States & East Coast takes 3-6 business days
Do you accept returns?
Each situation is different, but we are happy to discuss any issues with you to find a resolution
My billing address is incorrect! Can you help?
If your transaction went through and you received an order confirmation, you are all set and nothing needs to be changed!