The Mission

The Cocoa Forge is an artisan, micro-batch chocolate factory crafting rare heirloom and fine-flavor cacao varietals into stoneground, bean-to-bar chocolate with online shopping.  My modus operandi, pure and simple:

• Seek out the world's most extraordinary, rare, exquisite, and responsibly grown cacao, direct-sourced from smallholder farms around the equator.
• Reverently craft this Food of the Gods into the purest form of chocolate possible; honoring slow and deliberate traditional chocolate making techniques.
• Respectfully present it to you with candid frankness and clarity.

Speaking of (chocolate) flowing, let's flow right onboard. Our transportation, the good ship Eleanora, awaits! We will wend our way towards our chocolate destinations, gracefully dodging around the perils, pitfalls and storms of this journey. Because it's not all sunshine and joy, although that is the goal and we will get there.

Off of the misty port side there will be shark infested waters (that would be the chocolate imposters thrashing about trying to get our attention).  And what's that eerie music off the starboard rail.  Oooh yes, the Sea Sirens (media, social or otherwise), those mythical sea creatures with beautiful voices that lure unprepared cacao sailors onto the rocks. There will be Shrieking Eels (slick marketers) appearing out of the starry darkness from the unknown somewhere. You know, the ones "that always grow louder when they are about to feed on human flesh". And.  There will be doldrums.  Economical, environmental, political; it's hard to predict. Do not be alarmed. The Eleanora will fall for none of this bruhaha. With those freakishly piercing blue eyes, she can see/sense these obstacles a mile away. She is always alert, always suspicious and always amused. So all we have to do is hold on to our hats and enjoy the chocolate voyage towards delight, discovery and enchantment.

Which, all that brings us 'round to a little chocolate philosophy.  Like wine, like life really, real chocolate (this chocolate) doesn't stay exactly the same.  Because even if I wanted to shoot for sameness and consistency, the beans hanging out in the exact same barrel from the exact same harvest go through some sort of personal growth and development behind my back.  So sometimes, even if I love a batch, I can't duplicate it EXACTLY.  Because, like people, they don't stay the same.  And it's not just differences in harvests or fermentation or roasting - aging happens, they mature and evolve.  They don't lose life force and vitality, they just develop.  Often into richer and more intense versions of their younger selves.  And when it comes time for a new batch they present themselves to me with new inspiration!  They always surprise me!  So if this sort of chocolate journey is your cup of tea (cocoa), you are in the right place. 

And this is where I say something corny like "weigh anchor!".  But I won't do that to you.  Oh wait.  Yes I will because I'm a cornball.  Hoist those sails!!  Haha!