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10 February 2010
Posted in
5) Sustainable Celebrations
Chocolate… the quintessential gift for Valentine’s Day… or at least the traditional one. If you enjoy the usual "love-day" chocolate fare on Valentine’s Day (or any day), try to make it ‘CRUSISIAN’ in nature if you can… something “healthy, socially just, earth friendly and community minded”. Here’s how and where you can buy it…
Ideally, ‘CRUSISIAN’ chocolate would mean it is: (1) Fair Trade, (2) locally made, (3) by hand, (4) organic, (5) raw, and (6) dark... if you can find it! :-)
It’s somewhat elusive and not something found in most corner stores when the chocolate urge strikes. If you can’t find chocolate with all these sustainable qualities, maybe you can look for some that has at least a few of them. The main thing to remember is the typically favored commercial chocolate bar, (usually labeled as a “candy bar” because of all the sugar, additives and non-chocolate products), are NOT the ones you should buy if you are looking for a sustainable option. These are seldom made from Fair Trade cocoa beans; are highly processed, manufactured far away and usually imported; are never organic or raw; and rarely ever made with dark chocolate.
If you are considering sweets for your sweetheart for Valentine’s Day, or any day, why not consider picking something up from one of the handful of local chocolate producers here in Halifax?
- You’ll love the taste.
- The planet will love how much your hand-made choice has reduced the carbon footprint required for you to get it.
- And your community will love your locally-inspired choice.
Below are some places you can buy ‘sustainable’ chocolate nearby for Valentine’s Day, and any day of the year you get a craving…
- ‘CRUSISIAN’ Chocolate
- All But Raw Chocolate
- Fine Chocolate
- Fun Chocolate
‘CRUSISIAN’ Chocolate
Rawthentic
Rawthentic Chocolate is the only vendor we know that sells chocolate with ALL the sustainable qualities mentioned above. You may have heard about them previously at CRUSISIS.ca since they were one of our tasting samplers at our fall ’09 event Taste for the Cure, in promotion of local producers, and in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
You can find this locally owned company in the Halifax, Kentville and Wolfville Farmer’s Markets, as well as at other local events. They’re lovely people who enjoy having you sample and buy their delectable ‘raw’, hand-made, Fair Trade, organic dark chocolate, especially if you’re an unsuspecting chocolate lover who hadn’t previously tried raw chocolate. Their raw chocolate and other natural energy products are deliciously empowering! Visit them on the web at www.rawthenticchocolate.com.
All But Raw Chocolate
Here’s a local favorite you may know and one that may be new to you: Just Us! and Pure Products Club. Both companies make chocolate that is “all but raw”, in terms of the sustainable characteristics listed above.
Just Us!
Just Us! has recently completed their renovation in Grand Pre, and is now back to making hand-made, Fair Trade and organic chocolate (dark & milk), right here in Nova Scotia. Their “chocolatier, Joey Pittoello, is creating new chocolate products as well as a few of our old favorites” they state on their website at www.justuscoffee.com/chocolate.aspx. You can buy chocolate and other Just Us! products at one of their many locations in the greater Halifax area, in Grand Pre, or through their on-line ordering form. Just Us! chocolate bars are also available in most major grocery stores, as well as Pete’s Fruitique, although the grocery store bars are typically manufactured abroad, in Germany.
Pure Product Club
We came across the Pure Product Club at the Alderney Landing Farmer’s Market in Dartmouth. What a serendipitous surprise! It turned out we knew one of the representatives from years ago from our hometown, and we were delighted to learn of another source for locally and hand-made dark chocolate, made from Fair Trade cocoa and organic products. It’s not ‘raw’, but it has all the other sought-after qualities of a truly sustainable (and ‘CRUSISIAN’) chocolate choice!
The Pure Product Club actually represents many vendors and offers a wide variety of natural and often organic, locally-manufactured products, including: oils, vinegars, soaps, cleaners and more. Their mission is “To increase awareness and distribution of healthy, free range and organic foods and biodegradable, environmentally friendly products.” They have a membership and their “club endeavors to support local and maritime farmers and producers”.
It is ‘not’ necessary to be a member of the club to purchase their products. For more information, visit them at Alderney Farmer’s Market or on their website at www.pureproductclub.com, or contact Rene (902-225-1031).
Fine Chocolate
Another couple of local favorite chocolatiers are Gourmandise Avenue and Rosemary’s Chocolates. Although neither uses Fair Trade nor organic chocolate, they do offer an extensive array of fine chocolates in all shapes and sizes. Their work is artistry that delves into sensational seasonal creations to delight both the eye and the pallet.
Gourmandise Avenue
Gourmandise Avenue chocolatiers are from France, where they have truly mastered the art of making fine chocolates. They make pure chocolate, filled chocolate, candied nuts and much more. They have soft-centered truffles and hard chocolate filled with nuts and chocolate surprises. And they have a way with ‘ganaches’ and pralines that make the hazelnut irresistible. Believe it or not, they also have a wide array of typically French-baked goodies as well.
However, their true talent lies in the chocolate seasonal works of art they make for your eating pleasure including:
- Overflowing chocolate sleds and decorated trees for Christmas
- Easter baskets filled with goodies, and of course…
- Chocolate heart ‘art’ for Valentine’s Day, and more…
They have a knack for flavour pairings to tempt a sophisticated pallet with chocolate and other ingredients like lavender, dulse, and salt (our favorite). They make the more typical combinations like orange and mint, but it’s the more unusual ones that remind you they are truly artisans.
They are not using Fair Trade or organic chocolate yet because they have been unable to find a source for Fair Trade cocoa that has the proper grade and quality they require to make their fine chocolate products. However, they do continue to search for a source.
Whatever your pleasure, a visit to Gourmandise Avenue at the Halifax Farmer’s Market or their establishment in Eastern Passage, will certainly fill your chocolate craving and suit any seasonal celebration.
Rosemary’s Chocolates
Rosemary has been making chocolates by hand in Halifax for years. “It started as a hobby”, she said, “and then just grew from there”.
They make everything on-site and by hand in their Dresden Row location (#1535, just above Pete’s Fruitique). Your nose will find them first as you walk past and smell the sweet store-filled chocolate aroma. They are also available at the Halifax Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings.
They don’t make anything using Fair Trade chocolate, citing that some of their customers complain of bitterness. However, in the case where customers do ask for it, she sends them to local producers.
Some special Rosemary’s Chocolates has for Valentine’s Day include:
- Chocolate hearts
- Squares that say: “I love you!”
- Heart-shaped boxes filled with chocolates cream centers (3, 8 & 12 pieces or 6 in a square box)
- Chocolate boxes filled with hearts
- Red roses made of chocolate
So if you work downtown and have a hankerin’ for chocolate, head on over to Dresden Row for Valentine’s Day, or any day of the year!
Fun Chocolate
Sugah!
Sugah! came on the scene in recent years and has stolen the heart of many locals and visitors to the Halifax Waterfront and Public Gardens, where they sell their hand-paddled ice cream and confectionaries. In the winter months, you can purchase their products (less the ice cream) at Uncommon Grounds locations in Halifax.
For Valentine’s Day, they continue last year’s ‘sexy’ treat of Tantantric Tablets and other chocolaty treats. Through the year, they make a variety of small chocolate bars using “Os” cereal, pretzels and shortbread cookies. They also sell larger bars for which they too have taken the art of flavour pairing to a whole new level by combining chocolate with ingredients like cranberries, lime and chipotle peppers. You simply have to taste some of these combinations in order to comprehend their epicurean appropriateness.
You know if the Uncommon Group has a hand in it, it’s going to be fun. And this year, they’ve combined some of their chocolate bars into a new baseball-themed game package that will surely help you and your sweetheart make your way around the bases. :-)
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