Published February 25th, 2022
Ultra-sustainable craft chocolate maker Chocolarder has added two new Easter Eggs to its award-winning range.
Produced in Cornwall, the two new products include a 68% Smooth Orange Peel Egg and a 75% Femme Virunga Egg, both of which are vegan, gluten-free, and made using only ethically sourced ingredients.
Believed to be the first of its kind, the Smooth Orange Peel chocolate egg is made using waste orange peel from a Falmouth beachside café, and cocoa beans imported from Sierra Leone’s sustainably managed Gola Rainforest, to create a smooth citrus taste with notes of marzipan and brownie.
The two new eggs are the latest additions to the Easter chocolates offered by Chocolarder, joining the vegan 60% Toasted Oat Milk Egg, a deliciously sweet 50% Cornish Honeycomb Milk Egg, and its multi-award-winning Wild Gorse Flower 50% Milk Egg. All eggs are 230g and retail for £24.50, except for the Orange Peel Egg at £26.50.
One of the select few of the UK’s recognised bean-to-bar manufacturers, Chocolarder imports cocoa beans from hand-picked family-run farms and community co-operatives from around the world before roasting, processing and creating the chocolate by hand in their small factory in Falmouth, Cornwall.
Mike Longman, Founder and Chocolate Maker, said: “The mission of Chocolarder has always been to create the highest quality products without compromise, particularly when it comes to the environment; these new Easter eggs are the latest step on this journey.”
The Virunga Egg uses cacao produced by an all-female cooperative called the Femme de Virunga in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which was set up to educate and support women in one of the most dangerous countries in the world. Along with its one other ingredient, ethically sourced raw sugar, the Virunga chocolate egg has notes of walnut, peated whisky and sandalwood.
Longman continued: “The idea behind re-using orange peel has been really exciting to work on, and we’re so happy to have arrived at a unique solution that both makes use of food waste and tastes great.
“We work very hard to ensure our chocolate doesn’t come from an exploited workforce. All of the farmers we work with are paid at least a 50% premium over the Fairtrade price. We are so pleased to be able to work alongside Femme De Virunga to bring this ethical and delicious chocolate to the UK as an Easter Egg.”
In line with the company’s sustainable ethos, the packaging of the chocolate eggs is entirely plastic-free with the products protected by biodegradable packaging custom made by another innovative Cornish business.
Chocolarder’s products are also all free from palm oil, emulsifiers, preservatives and colourings, and by carefully choosing its suppliers the company can support reforestation projects and ensure that all of its products are slavery-free.
Chocolarder is stocked in Selfridges and has been included in the department store’s exclusive ‘Bright New Thing’ list which celebrates innovative producers that have a low impact on the environment.
All of the Easter eggs, as well as the existing catalogue of award-winning chocolate bars and truffles, can also be purchased on its website which offers UK wide delivery. https://www.chocolarder.com/shop/
A video of the process behind making the eggs can be found here: https://vimeo.com/681784229
More information about Chocolarder and a full breakdown of its individual products can be found on its website: https://www.chocolarder.com/
