Over 2 million children work as unpaid slaves on cocoa farms that supply cocoa to chocolate giants like Hershey's, Nestle, Mars Global, Barry Callebaut, Cargill and others. https://www.slavefreechocolate.org/
Since learning this, I have been on a hunt for slavery free ethically sourced and made chocolate. I couldn't be MORE PLEASED to introduce you to Shola and his family owned company My Sweet Sweet World!
Shola is based in Ontario, Canada. His Father, who is a retired agriculture teacher, is the one who sends him the cocoa from Nigeria! It gets better, Shola's Father works with farmers in his Mother's village to source the cocoa. This is called DIRECT TRADE and is often better for farmer's than trying to get the expensive Fair Trade label.
With direct trade, farmers are able to set the price themselves! These are small scale farmers who cultivate and harvest the cocoa plants. Shola tells me there is no slave labour or child labour, other than the kids who have to help their parents after school!!!! OH WE LOVE THAT!
So not only can you feel good about how the chocolate is sourced you can also feel good about how they are made. All of these bars are made with:
- NO preservatives
- NO lecithin or emulsifiers
- NO colourants
- NO artificial flavours
- NO aroma enhancers.
These bars have the fewest ingredients I have ever seen in a chocolate bar. Plus all ingredients are simple English words!
CHECK THIS OUT! INGREDIENT LIST:
Milk Chocolate - cocoa butter, whole milk powder, sugar, cocoa nibs & vanilla bean!
100 grams
SHIPPING & STORAGE- We apologize shipping on chocolate is costly. It's due to their size and weight! There is a possibility of the chocolates blooming (turning white) during shipping if temperatures exceed 22 C or 71F. Ideal temperature for chocolate is 18-22 degrees celsius/ 64 - 71F. Blooming is when the cocoa, milk and sugar separate, they are still perfectly edible. Do not store near a heat or light source. If you suspect your shipment might sit in a warm mailbox or your outside temperature exceeds this, you may not want to purchase these or upgrade shipping to express on checkout.
We apologize if a bar arrives 'broken', please know this is something we cannot prevent or ensure it doesn't happen.
TO LEARN MORE WE RECOMMEND THESE RESOURCES:
Interview:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0g5RFtcx4MIQhxSfeyvV6x?si=bf9a1880917f4a97
Documentary: The Dark Side of Chocolate