Are you curious about craft chocolate but don't know where to start? Here are answers to some common questions to help you make sense of the writing on the package and choose a bar that's right for you.
Craft chocolate is chocolate that is made on a small scale, often by hand or in small batches.
The term is used to distinguish chocolate made in this way from commercial, industrial, or mass-produced chocolate, which is chocolate that has been produced by large companies on a larger scale using industrial machinery. Craft chocolate makers prioritize flavor over volume, and value using high-quality ingredients sourced from ethical producers. They work on the cutting edge of the chocolate industry to demonstrate the possibilities of chocolate and sustainable production.
Bean-to-bar chocolate is chocolate that is made starting with cocoa beans instead of a pre-processed product like cocoa powder or chocolate liquor.
Bean-to-bar makers handle each step of the production process on their own, from roasting the beans to molding the finished product. This gives them fuller control over the flavor profile in the finished chocolate.
Single-origin means that the bar was made with beans from a single farm instead of a blend of beans from multiple farms.
Craft chocolate enthusiasts value single-origin chocolate because it allows you to taste the unique qualities of a specific cocoa bean.
The percentage on the package refers to how much of the bar is made from cocoa beans.
A bar of 70% dark chocolate is 70% cocoa beans and 30% other ingredients, like sugar and cocoa butter.
Craft chocolate costs more because it is generally more expensive to produce than commercial chocolate.
Craft chocolate makers invest a great deal of time and money into sourcing ingredients that are higher in quality and more ethically produced than the ingredients commonly used in commercial chocolate. They prioritize paying farmers a fair wage and ensuring that their beans are grown and processed in a way that brings out the best possible flavors.
Add to this the increased labor costs of making chocolate by hand in small batches, and you wind up with prices that are higher than many are used to.
The sticker shock is understandable, but that high cost goes toward ensuring the highest-quality chocolate and that all people involved in its production are treated fairly.
Sourcing ingredients from ethical producers rejects and discourages harmful practices that are common on cocoa plantations.
Deforestation, slave and child labor, and unfair farmer compensation are just some of the serious problems that are rampant in the cocoa industry. By partnering with ethical farms and paying farmers a fair wage, craft chocolate makers are playing a small role in the shift toward a more ethical future for chocolate.
A bar of craft chocolate’s flavor profile is primarily related to several factors: bean variety, growing environment, fermentation method, roasting technique, and conching duration.
Chocolate made with beans from different origins often varies widely in flavor. Here are some common flavor profiles of different origins to help you narrow your search:
(Click the countries to see a great bar from every origin!)
These origins often have bright notes of tropical and red fruits like sour cherry, strawberry, pineapple, and citrus.
These origins often have deep notes of purple fruits like dried fig, black cherry, raisin, and stone fruits.
Cocoa beans from Vietnam often have aromatic and juicy notes of warm baking spices and tropical fruit.
These origins often have classic “chocolatey” notes like fudge, cocoa, and roasted nuts.
Other than purchasing directly from the makers, the following are a few websites that offer a great variety of craft chocolate:
With the explosion of the craft chocolate industry in recent years, there is an overwhelming number of craft chocolate makers worth trying. The following are just a few that offer particularly high-quality products that demonstrate the possibilities of craft chocolate: