The Nib

Origin Trip #53: Davao, Philippines

This trip has been a complex one! Navigating the current cocoa market isn’t easy, and this is yet another reason why we’re grateful we practice Direct Trade, and don’t work with third party brokers...

Origin Trip #52: Del Tambo, Ecuador

Greetings from Guayaquil, Ecuador where the beauty of connection shines despite challenging circumstances. Amidst travel adjustments and heightened security concerns, Shawn’s heartfelt reunion with...

Origin Trip #51: Mababu, Tanzania

During this transformative trip, Shawn Askinosie celebrated a decade of uplifting Empowered Girls and Enlightened Boys Clubs for area students, navigated complex logistics hurdles with importing co...

Origin Trip #50: Davao, Philippines

A Momentous Occasion in Direct Trade: 50 Origin Trips (And Counting)!  After a smooth 40-hour journey Shawn arrived in the Philippines and got right to work. On Monday, Shawn spent the day working ...

Origin Trip #49: Tanzania 2023

Chocolate University Returns To Mababu, Tanzania Our Chocolate University business immersion program students just returned from spending a week in Mababu, Tanzania- truly the trip of a lifetime. T...

Origin Trips #47 & #48: Ecuador- 2023

Shawn returned to Ecuador four years to the WEEK after being unable to travel there due to political unrest and the pandemic. It was a trip of sweet reunions, profit share meetings, chocolate tasti...

Origin Trip #46: Davao, Philippines- 2023

After traveling for over 40 hours, I was thankful to arrive safely in Davao City. It was good to be back in a place I know so well, and that is so near to my heart. We've been sourcing cocoa beans,...

Origin Trip #45: Mababu, Tanzania- 2022

It’s hard to believe it’s been 15 years. It feels like it’s been so much longer, but when I go and visit our origins, I feel the same sense of awe that I felt at the beginning. It’s always a hard t...

Fourteen Years of Direct Trade And Counting

This month marks our fourteenth & most challenging year of practicing direct trade and sharing profits to source premium cocoa beans from smallholder cocoa farmers across the globe.  

Origin Trip #44: Mababu, Tanzania- 2019

This years’ profit share was one of our biggest ever because it was a great year for sales of chocolate made with their beans. We always couple the profit share with tasting chocolate, which Lawren...