The Nib

A Product of Change: Tastes Good, Does Good Too.

In our relationships with our origin communities, we believe we can do more beyond paying above-Fair-Trade-market prices for cocoa beans. Most of the communities surrounding the cocoa farms are bri...

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...

Origin Trip #43: Zamora, Amazonia- 2019

Monica, our lead farmer partner in Zamora, Amazonia, holds the single origin chocolate bar (now featuring a 2019 Good Food Award emblem!!) made with her co-op’s beans.

Origin Trip #42: Del Tambo, Ecuador- 2019

This was Shawn’s fourteenth visit with Vitaliano; we’ve been buying outstanding Arriba Nacional cocoa beans to make our Ecuador chocolate bars from his small family farm since 2006!! The morning ...

Origin Trip #41: Davao, Philippines- 2019

This year marks our eleventh anniversary of being the first chocolate makers in the world to export cocoa from the Philippines, and of collaboration with our lead farmer partner, Peter Cruz.  Toge...

ORIGIN TRIP #40: MABABU, TANZANIA- 2018

After 60+ hours of travel, the 2018 Chocolate University Class arrived in Tanzania!! The final leg of the trip included a long bus ride to the remote village to meet our farmer partners and over th...

ORIGIN TRIP #39: ZAMORA, AMAZONIA- 2018

After meeting with Vitaliano, our lead farmer partner in Ecuador, I made the short trip to see our newest farmer partner group in Zamora, Amazonia. Bringing chocolate for two origin trips is a chal...

ORIGIN TRIP #38: DEL TAMBO, ECUADOR- 2018

I met with our lead farmer partner, Vitaliano, his son, Moises, and the rest of his family, from whom we purchase all of the Arriba Nacional cacao for our beloved Ecuador chocolate bars. Vitaliano ...

ORIGIN TRIP #37: DAVAO, PHILIPPINES- 2018

On the first origin trip of 2018 Shawn met with lead farmer, Peter Cruz, pictured here alongside farm manager, Johnny. They inspected our next shipment of cocoa beans, taking random samples to perf...

ORIGIN TRIP #36: MADAGASCAR- 2017

After wrapping up the last week of the 2017 Tanzania origin trip, Shawn took a quick detour to Madagascar before heading home! For now, the details are top-secret. But stay tuned for updates on a n...