In the United States of America it is the
Even during our 2020 pandemic season, many of us will celebrate in some way. I put out our flag for example and we'll have special food for the entire day including some desserts.
Some folks get quite fancy with their holiday desserts.
But today I want you all to stop and think about Chocolate in a way that may not be how you commonly think about it. Can there truly be USA Chocolate?
There are five questions we need to ask about the chocolate we use in our homes to make our own treats and about the chocolate desserts and treats we may ready made.
#1 Where were the beans grown?
Hawaii is the only place in the United States where cacao trees can and are being grown. However, Hawaiian cocoa butter and chocolate liquor are barely on the map when it comes to chocolate company usage. The bulk of American brands get their chocolate from five countries – Cote d'Ivoire, Ecuador, Ghana, Dominican Republic, and Papua New Guinea. If you want to know where a brand's beans come from, ask. If they don't know, they aren't processing the beans themselves but buying the ready to use couverture and cocoa powder.
#2 Where were those beans processed into chocolate?
Some cocoa beans are processed on the farms where they are grown but most is processed after shipment to the company's that turn that into the chocolate products that you and I use. Generally, a brand will use beans from multiple farmers and from multiple countries which is why single-origin is a big marketing point for some chocolate. It is cheaper to mix the beans from different price points and quality than it is to single-source or fair trade them. Many companies that process their own beans are quite proud of that fact and will put that information on their websites.
#3 Where were the final products created?
American companies are only three of the world's top ten users of chocolate in all its various forms for edible products. These three – Mars Wrigley Confectionery, Mondelēz International, and Hershey Co – grew everything from candy (not really chocolate) to fine chocolates. However, there are tons of smaller companies in the USA that make chocolate. Just find out where their beans are from and if they process the beans themselves. Look at the label of what you are thinking of buying and it should tell you where it was made.
#4 Where can you buy it?
Obviously if you can walk into your store and you live in the USA, it can be bought there, right? But chocolate is an international business so just buying it at a shop is merely one step in this five-link chain of Americanism. You have to ask the final question.
#5 Who profits from those final sales?
Small, independent chocolate and candy shops are likely to be the ones profiting from their sales but if this question is important to you, ask. Some businesses that seem local may be part of national or international chains, they may be owned by foreign entities, or they could be your neighbor's main economic source. The great thing about buying from local shops instead of online is that you know the employees there are putting money back into your community right away when they spend what they earn on their own groceries, housing, transportation, etc. You can still support non-local American chocolate through online sales. Right now, in July, you'd have to pay extra for shipping and some places simply stop shipping because heat and humidity can harm their creations.
Most of the brands we've covered here on The Chocolate Cult are American owned and made but most are not from Hawaii beans. Except for these and they no longer seem to be in business:
Ultimately you have to decide how many of these conditions -- where were the beans are grown, where the chocolate is process, where the products are created, where you can buy it, and who profits from it -- you want to be made in the USA before you'll call it American.
If you think your chocolate creations quality as truly made of and in the USA, send them our way and we'll share them with our worldwide readership.
----------
Resources Used in this Article
The Stacker
Chocolate University
Hawaii Chocolate Organization
International Cocoa Organization
Even during our 2020 pandemic season, many of us will celebrate in some way. I put out our flag for example and we'll have special food for the entire day including some desserts.
Some folks get quite fancy with their holiday desserts.
But today I want you all to stop and think about Chocolate in a way that may not be how you commonly think about it. Can there truly be USA Chocolate?
There are five questions we need to ask about the chocolate we use in our homes to make our own treats and about the chocolate desserts and treats we may ready made.
#1 Where were the beans grown?
Hawaii is the only place in the United States where cacao trees can and are being grown. However, Hawaiian cocoa butter and chocolate liquor are barely on the map when it comes to chocolate company usage. The bulk of American brands get their chocolate from five countries – Cote d'Ivoire, Ecuador, Ghana, Dominican Republic, and Papua New Guinea. If you want to know where a brand's beans come from, ask. If they don't know, they aren't processing the beans themselves but buying the ready to use couverture and cocoa powder.
#2 Where were those beans processed into chocolate?
Some cocoa beans are processed on the farms where they are grown but most is processed after shipment to the company's that turn that into the chocolate products that you and I use. Generally, a brand will use beans from multiple farmers and from multiple countries which is why single-origin is a big marketing point for some chocolate. It is cheaper to mix the beans from different price points and quality than it is to single-source or fair trade them. Many companies that process their own beans are quite proud of that fact and will put that information on their websites.
#3 Where were the final products created?
American companies are only three of the world's top ten users of chocolate in all its various forms for edible products. These three – Mars Wrigley Confectionery, Mondelēz International, and Hershey Co – grew everything from candy (not really chocolate) to fine chocolates. However, there are tons of smaller companies in the USA that make chocolate. Just find out where their beans are from and if they process the beans themselves. Look at the label of what you are thinking of buying and it should tell you where it was made.
#4 Where can you buy it?
Obviously if you can walk into your store and you live in the USA, it can be bought there, right? But chocolate is an international business so just buying it at a shop is merely one step in this five-link chain of Americanism. You have to ask the final question.
#5 Who profits from those final sales?
Small, independent chocolate and candy shops are likely to be the ones profiting from their sales but if this question is important to you, ask. Some businesses that seem local may be part of national or international chains, they may be owned by foreign entities, or they could be your neighbor's main economic source. The great thing about buying from local shops instead of online is that you know the employees there are putting money back into your community right away when they spend what they earn on their own groceries, housing, transportation, etc. You can still support non-local American chocolate through online sales. Right now, in July, you'd have to pay extra for shipping and some places simply stop shipping because heat and humidity can harm their creations.
Most of the brands we've covered here on The Chocolate Cult are American owned and made but most are not from Hawaii beans. Except for these and they no longer seem to be in business:
Ultimately you have to decide how many of these conditions -- where were the beans are grown, where the chocolate is process, where the products are created, where you can buy it, and who profits from it -- you want to be made in the USA before you'll call it American.
If you think your chocolate creations quality as truly made of and in the USA, send them our way and we'll share them with our worldwide readership.
----------
Resources Used in this Article
The Stacker
Chocolate University
Hawaii Chocolate Organization
International Cocoa Organization
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