RESPONSIBLY FARMED - REVERENTLY PROCESSED - RESPECTFULLY OFFERED

RESPONSIBLY FARMED

This means: Sourcing from vigilant farmers around the equator. The true guardians of Heirloom and Fine Flavor cacao varietals. They are usually small family farms. They may or may not have fancy certificates from NGOs to validate their existence. They don't use buzz words on their websites. They don't usually even have computers. They grow regeneratively and have for generations. No one told them to do it that way. The wisdom of the land is in their blood. Cacao is part of their ancestry, their lives, their food. And they share with lucky us.

REVERENTLY PROCESSED

Each origin is precious and unique and must be handled with care according to its unique attributes. There is no one "recipe" or standardized processing because every origin behaves differently. Every single part of the process is purposeful, methodical and hands-on. With care, their lovely personalities and characteristics will shine. Often, that means minimal interference. Step back and stay out of their way. The beans will speak if you let them. Testing, sorting, roasting, cracking, winnowing, grinding, refining, conching, tempering, molding, packaging. BTW, I do the grinding and refining the old-fashioned way. With rocks :). Smoothed granite roller stones which shear the cacao particles against a granite plate. It's very slow, but it's worth it.

RESPECTFULLY OFFERED

It's more than the packaging (each bar hand wrapped in a double inner layer of heavy glassine paper layered with a protective sheet, folded origami style, and then into the outer envelope it goes (all 100% biodegradable and compostable, (or recyclable and/or reusable, however you do your thing)) and is free from any coatings or toxic dyes. This chocolate will never touch aluminum foil or plastic wrap or cardboard-y paper. But even more importantly; what "respectfully offered" means to me more than anything - you get the truth. You will never get "AI'd". You will never be coerced to buy, googled and tracked, schmoozed or manipulated. You will never see pop-up ads that disturb your peace and startle you into hitting the buy button. The pricing is was it is what it is. I was not raised with negotiating skills. I don't like it, I don't know how to do it. You just get honesty here. It's you and me, journeying together down the chocolate road of life. The real chocolate road.

Ok. I just have to add something about the new packaging. It is so beautiful and it speaks volumes without any words. It tells the story all by itself and I am so grateful to Joe at JBM Packaging who brought the story to life. When you first pick up your bar, you can see you've embarked on a journey. Look closer, the Eleanora has a pretty good bow wave going. She's on a mission. You may not be exactly sure where you are going. It's evening, the moon is hanging low, the stars are out, you're in the middle of the ocean. You turn the bar over. Oh! Look what is coming into sight! A magical land with a mysterious tree! It's still a distance away. The Morning/Evening Star has has appeared (Venus). (Theobroma Cacao was brought to earth on the beam of the morning star). You now know where you are going. You open the outer wrapper and slide out the chocolate bar. You are just beginning to get wisps of aromas. You are drawing closer to your destination. Dawn is coming. The moon is setting. You turn the bar over and morning has broken and ...you have arrived! Bon Voyage Cacao travelers! XOXO!!