Archive for: July 2006

As consumers have become more aware of the link between cocoa and heart health the desire for dark chocolate creations is booming. Chocolatiers have taken note! Last year over 600 new products containing dark chocolate were made available throughout the world. I suspect many more new products have been or will be launched this year. That’s a lot of chocolate to try!

Evidently the U.S. company Hershey recently acquired Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker. They’ve created many new products since the aquisition. Hershey now owns 77 percent of the dark chocolate market!

It seems to me that there are plenty of novel sources of dark chocolate creations made by companies with a better track record for environmental concerns and fair trade than Hershey. Keep checking this blog for new discoveries and recommendations.

If you’d like to learn more about the dark chocolate marketplace you can read a new article at Confectionary News

entitled “Chocolate goes to the dark side” by Catherine Boal.

technorati tags:fair, trade, dark, chocolate, demand, new, creations, market

http://www.dagobachocolate.com/

Do go and visit this site! Dagoba is a family owned company dedicated to the making of organic chocolate with a commitment to sustainable practices for the production and manufacture of the cocoa.

There are lots of delicious looking chocolates available most of which seems to be dark chocolate. They offer dark chocolate bars infused with lime, mint, lavendar, and many more flavors plus single origin varietals (also dark chocolate). All of the chocolate is certified organic.

A very nice feature of the Dagoba chocolate website is the provision of detailed nutrition and ingredient information for each of their products!

I am including a recipe for Frozen Hot Chocolate from one of Dagoba’s newsletters. Doesn’t it sound good? Just right for the heat we are experiencing where I live. Go visit this site! It’s well laid out out with gorgeous photos and lots of great information and products.

“Dagobian Delights: Frozen Hot Chocolate

3 oz Dagoba chocolate, any variety

1 1/2 cups milk or alternative

1 Tablespoon Dagoba hot chocolate mix

1 Tablespoons evaporated cane juice or other sweetener

3 C iceWhipped Cream and Shaved Dagoba chocolate, any variety

Cut the chocolate into pieces and place in a double boiler. Stir in a clockwise 11 times, then counter clockwise 3 times, continuing this stirring cycle till melted. Add the sweetener and hot chocolate mix, and repeat stirring cycle till blended. Remove from stove, add 1/2 cup of the milk/alternative and stir until smooth. Cool to about room temperature and place in a blender with the remaining milk/alternative and ice. Blend till smooth. Top with Whipped cream and shaved chocolate”

Dagoba Organic Chocolate - ENEWS

technorati tags:dark, chocolate, organic, sustainable