Chocolate
Licking The Spoon: Making Craft Chocolate in Costa Rica (Interview)
Interview with Lindy Hart of Two Little Monkeys Chocolate. Continue reading
Sweet Freedom: How to Find Slavery-Free Chocolate
No, we’re not talking about chocolate that’s free because slaves made it. We’re here to say “no” to exploitation in the name of tasty treats.
Over 40% of the world’s chocolate is produced by child slaves. There are now an estimated 1.1 million child slaves working in the chocolate industry. “These children typically come from countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Togo. Destitute parents in these poverty-stricken lands sell their children to traffickers believing that they will find honest work once they arrive in Ivory Coast and then send some of their earnings home. But that’s not what happens. These children, usually 11-to-16-years-old but sometimes younger, are forced to do hard manual labor 80 to 100 hours a week. They are paid nothing, receive no education, are barely fed, are beaten regularly, and are often viciously beaten if they try to escape. Most will never see their families again.” Continue reading
Documentary: The Dark Side of Chocolate (Video)
The Dark Side of Chocolate investigates child slavery in the Ivory Coast and other countries that produce cacao, the main ingredient of chocolate. Journalists go undercover with hidden cameras and assumed identities to get the inside story, including interviews with child traffickers and on-the-job footage of those who work to rescue these children.
Note: Email subscribers may have to visit the website to watch the video.
Cacao Plantation Workers Try Chocolate for the First Time (Video)
Green Bean Amandine with Cacao
I was doubtful about using cacao in a savory recipe, but I have a different idea now that I’ve tried it. In fact, I’ve made this recipe three nights this week. The rich flavor, bitterness and buttery-ness adds a lot to a recipe, and mixed with the almonds and balsamic vinegar, it’s sublime. Plus, cacao is a superfood. Try it and let me know what you think! Continue reading
6 Reasons To Avoid Cheap Chocolate
I recently visited a chocolate plantation in Costa Rica. Cacao pods lounged in the trees, and workers tended to the plants. I learned a lot by talking with the local expert who showed me around. I learned about the process of making chocolate and about the socioeconomic effects of chocolate consumption worldwide. And I came away with one resolve planted firmly in my heart: don’t buy cheap chocolate. Here’s why.
Healthier Brownies: Chocolate Nut Balls
This recipe was passed down in my family from generation to generation. Well, maybe that only happened once. But my children will certainly be eating them, so that makes them something of an edible family heirloom, doesn’t it?
Plus, they’re deliciously nutritious, so they allow us to scrap the age-old question of whether it’s better to feel guilty about eating lots of brownies or sad about not eating any. They’re sweet, beautiful, and nutritious. And really, can you think of anything more to ask for? Continue reading
Cacao: The Superfood
The ancient Mayans knew of Cacao’s nourishing qualities and held it sacred, and Aztec warriors prized it for its energy and nutrition. It’s time we reacquainted ourselves with the ancient wisdom regarding this amazing food. Here are some of raw cacao’s health benefits: Continue reading
February Is… Chocolate Month!
Announcing… Chocolate Month! That’s right, this February we will be devoting an entire moon cycle to chocolate and cacao. We’ve created a lot of exciting content that we hope you’ll enjoy. We’ve experimented with sweet and savory cacao recipes, delved into the dark secrets behind major chocolate producers (and found out how to buy ethically sourced chocolate), discovered why cacao is considered a superfood, interviewed a small, local bean-to-bar chocolatier, and quite a lot more. We hope you’ll join us for this adventure. If you’re not already subscribed, please do so below for the full experience:
We would also like your appreciation for not including any puns about “having a taste of…” or things being “sweet,” in this announcement. There may, however, be some puns made over the course of chocolate month. We are not liable for bouts of punny-ness, fits of anger, or injury as a result of these puns.
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Nicholas Tippins