What is bean-to-bar chocolate?

Discover the artisanal difference in every bite

Why bean-to-bar chocolate matters?

Bean-to-bar chocolate is more than just a trend—it's a movement redefining what quality chocolate means. Unlike commercial or "industrial premium" chocolate, bean-to-bar chocolate is crafted in small batches with passion, transparency, and a relentless dedication to flavour and ethics.

What does bean-to-bar mean?

At its core, bean-to-bar refers to chocolate made by artisans who control every step of the process—from sourcing the cacao beans and working with the growers, to carefully crafting the final bar that ends up in your hands.

This hands-on approach ensures:

• Superior Quality: bean-to-bar makers select only the finest cacao beans, often from single origins or specific farms - these are known as "flavour beans".
• Full Traceability: you know exactly where your chocolate comes from - this matters because not only does the specific region influence the flavour you can expect, but transparent trade is the most ethical form or trade.
• Ethical Sourcing: most bean-to-bar makers support not only sustainable farming but truly fair trade practices in an industry that often has very poor conditions for the growing communities.

Our word of warning...

As the craft chocolate movement takes off, there are a lot of producers who claim to be artisanal, or gourmet - but that doesn't mean they are a bean-to-bar chocolate maker, or even a quality maker. Some chocolate bars are commercially produced, yet 'craft chocolate-like' labels are added to packaging to dupe you into buying it.

Likewise, there's a lot of producers out there who buy their chocolate in, melt it down and mould it into a bar and sell it to you. Some of these are good (although TBH many are not) but they are a far cry from our bean-to-bar makers who are involved in every step of the chocolate making process.

How is bean-to-bar chocolate made?

Bean-to-bar chocolate makers are like master chefs or winemakers. They are driven by skill and passion, and it is truly a craft. They will carefully:

1. Source high-quality cocoa beans - often called from ethical, sustainable farms. they will know exactly where the beans come from, and often can tell you the people who have grown them and may even visit the farms. They pay above average for the beans - but also support growing communities in many other empowering ways (we'll get into fair trade another time, that's a long topic).

2. Roast, grind, conch, and temper the chocolate in small batches, controlling time and temperature for the perfect result. Consider, for example, that there is no single roast time for cacao beans - each bean - from each area, will have a different profile and will require a different roast time. 
   
   We understand this better with wine or coffee. Imagine grapes from all different regions being thrown together to make wine, or coffee beans being thrown in together to be roasted. We instinctively know this will make a poor product, and chocolate is no different; hence the careful attention from our bean-to-bar makers.

3. Craft Unique Recipes: that highlight the natural flavours and aromas of the cacao.

This meticulous process results in chocolate that's rich, complex, and bursting with personality—far beyond what you'll find in mass-produced bars.

In short...

Bean-to-bar chocolate represents a return to artisan chocolate making, a dedication to process, taking time to honour the unique flavours of the cacao; and a celebration of the expertise and dedication of the cacao growers. 

By choosing bean-to-bar chocolate, you support small business, sustainable practices, direct trade, and the preservation of traditional chocolate making and growing practices. Plus, you will end up with a better tasting chocolate!

All reasons why we only deal in bean-to-bar makers - as we think both the growers and the makers are pretty special for their skills - because together they create chocolate magic!

Ready to taste the difference? 

Explore our curated collection of bean-to-bar chocolates and discover your new favourite!