A series of articles published a half decade ago, at the end of 2014, sparked a series of half-jokes and serious questions about the world’s cacao supply— namely, will it taper off and disappear by 2050? It seems unlikely that cocoa could go extinct in thirty years. But I wanted to explore the idea which sparked this cocoa frenzy, and caused more cacao to be planted than you can even imagine. What are the factors which could cause a chocopocalypse, and how are we dealing with them now? Do...

Myanmar is much more closely associated with ancient temples and civil war than burgeoning agriculture and tourism, yet both of the latter are on the rise in the country. And for those not yet aware, Myanmar also grows an increasing amount of cacao, all of which is processed into value-added chocolate, totaling near one ton a month. Each ingredient— almost all organically, locally grown— is carefully sourced by a small team led by long-term expat Jean-Yves Branchard. The towering Frenchman is...

Thailand is the country of potential. Immigrants from nearby Myanmar, Laos (https://damecacao.com/vientiane-chocolate-maker-in-laos/), and Cambodia (https://damecacao.com/chocolate-on-the-road-cambodia/) come to the country by the millions, to work and to live. Yet in so many ways, the Thai chocolate and cacao scene isn’t living up to its potential. Despite having a growing number of cacao farmers across the country, there just isn’t much chocolate being made in Thailand. Or maybe it’s...

When I was a kid, discovering my Mom’s chocolate stash in the pantry was always exciting— until I realized it was made up of only sugar-free chocolate. For as long as I can remember, sugar free chocolate was the “other” category in the chocolate aisle; it never tasted particularly chocolatey, but it wasn’t good for you, either. But recently, that perception changed for me, because I tried craft sugar-free chocolate. As a new category of craft chocolate, the very existence of companies like...

SoMA Chocolate Maker is one of the oldest small-batch chocolate makers in the world. In 2003, David Castellan co-founded the company with his partner, Cynthia (https://damecacao.com/interview-cynthia-leung-soma-chocolate/), and they’ve been making great chocolate ever since. But as any chocolate maker can tell you, starting a chocolate factory from scratch is no easy task, and back in 2003 it seemed laughable to even think about. Yet they did it. These days SoMA Chocolate Maker is seen as one...

Ancient temples or genocide. Those are the two most common things people seem to associate with the Kingdom of Cambodia. Located in Southeast Asia, and bordered by Vietnam (https://damecacao.com/chocolate-on-the-road-vietnam/), Laos, and Thailand, Cambodia is so much more than its past. Visitors are now discovering the country’s burgeoning fine food culture, and the heavily rural areas behind it, one of which is growing the nation’s first cacao. In the last year, Cambodia has seen its first...

Many people still think of Vietnam in terms of its contentious civil war, back in the 60’s and 70’s. But while the war has certainly left its mark, for chocolate lovers Vietnam has become one of the best-known cacao origins in Asia. Many small batch craft chocolate makers (https://damecacao.com/where-buy-craft-chocolate-online/) keep a Vietnamese bean in their lineup of cacaos. But with over a dozen chocolate makers popping up in Vietnam over the years, where does that leave local chocolate...

Sometimes it feels like craft chocolate is just an expensive hobby. Very few of the people I meet know anything about chocolate and cacao (https://damecacao.com/cacao-vs-cocoa/); educating the world’s populace seems futile. But what about those of us who already buy craft chocolate on the regular? What convinced us to buy our first bar or cup of fine cocoa? Did we have a mind-blowing taste, or go purely off a friend’s good word? Compared to mass-produced chocolate, bean to bar chocolate...

Sometimes it feels like craft chocolate is just an expensive hobby. Very few of the people I meet know anything about chocolate and cacao (https://damecacao.com/cacao-vs-cocoa/); educating the world’s populace seems futile. But what about those of us who already buy craft chocolate on the regular? What convinced us to buy our first bar or cup of fine cocoa? Did we have a mind-blowing taste, or go purely off a friend’s good word? Compared to mass-produced chocolate, bean to bar chocolate...

In this week's bonus episode, we'll have a bit of fun with this snippet of my discussion of convenience stores in Taiwan, featuring Arleen Huang and Joyce Lee, along with her uncle, Siong-Goan. Do you know xiao chi? Connect With Arleen & the Lees On Facebook: @MissCacaoandMr.Chocolate (https://www.facebook.com/MissCacaoandMr.Chocolate/) & @jccw2016 (https://www.facebook.com/jccw2016/) Connect With Chocolate On The Road On Instagram: @chocolateontheroad...

In this week's bonus episode, we'll have a bit of fun with this snippet of my discussion of convenience stores in Taiwan, featuring Arleen Huang and Joyce Lee, along with her uncle, Siong-Goan. Do you know xiao chi? Connect With Arleen & the Lees On Facebook: @MissCacaoandMr.Chocolate (https://www.facebook.com/MissCacaoandMr.Chocolate/) & @jccw2016 (https://www.facebook.com/jccw2016/) Connect With Chocolate On The Road On Instagram: @chocolateontheroad...

Taiwan has developed immensely over the several decades since Japanese occupation ended, often referenced as one of the Four Asian Tigers (https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/four-asian-tigers.asp). The country is now better known for bubble tea & soup dumplings than for a raging fine food culture, but it's there, bubbling under the surface (if you'll pardon the pun). Taiwanese chocolate (https://damecacao.com/guide-best-chocolate-taiwan/) and whiskey are on the upswing, and have been...

Taiwan has developed immensely over the several decades since Japanese occupation ended, often referenced as one of the Four Asian Tigers (https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/four-asian-tigers.asp). The country is now better known for bubble tea & soup dumplings than for a raging fine food culture, but it's there, bubbling under the surface (if you'll pardon the pun). Taiwanese chocolate (https://damecacao.com/guide-best-chocolate-taiwan/) and whiskey are on the upswing, and have been...

In this week's bonus episode, we'll hear a bit more about the origins of the Smooth Chocolator, AKA Yoon Kim. For the last four years, she's been running her award-winning craft chocolate brand while holding down a full-time job. And boy has it been expensive. Connect With Yoon On Instagram: @smoothchocolator (https://www.instagram.com/smoothchocolator/) Connect With Chocolate On The Road On Instagram: @chocolateontheroad (https://www.instagram.com/chocolateontheroad/) On...

In this week's bonus episode, we'll hear a bit more about the origins of the Smooth Chocolator, AKA Yoon Kim. For the last four years, she's been running her award-winning craft chocolate brand while holding down a full-time job. And boy has it been expensive. Connect With Yoon On Instagram: @smoothchocolator (https://www.instagram.com/smoothchocolator/) Connect With Chocolate On The Road On Instagram: @chocolateontheroad (https://www.instagram.com/chocolateontheroad/) On...

Most people who grew up eating chocolate will remember it as a cheap candy, something you bought from the store for less than a dollar. So to most people, the idea of a $10 chocolate bar⁠— or a $5 or $15 chocolate bar⁠— is ludicrous. What could possibly cost so much? But the real question you should be asking is why was it so cheap in the first place? After all, cacao is grown in tropical regions (https://damecacao.com/interview-kablon-family-farms-south-cotabato-philippines/) around the...

Most people who grew up eating chocolate will remember it as a cheap candy, something you bought from the store for less than a dollar. So to most people, the idea of a $10 chocolate bar⁠— or a $5 or $15 chocolate bar⁠— is ludicrous. What could possibly cost so much? But the real question you should be asking is why was it so cheap in the first place? After all, cacao is grown in tropical regions (https://damecacao.com/interview-kablon-family-farms-south-cotabato-philippines/) around the...

Cynthia Leung is a calming presence. She almost disarms you with her soft voice, but then she drops all these wisdom bombs about running a company and getting through tough times with your sanity intact. After almost two decades working in the craft chocolate sphere, she’s more than qualified to dole that out, too. Cynthia’s company of SoMA Chocolate is one of the oldest small-batch chocolate makers in the world. From her factory in Toronto, Canada, we talk about the landscape of cacao...

Cynthia Leung is a calming presence. She almost disarms you with her soft voice, but then she drops all these wisdom bombs about running a company and getting through tough times with your sanity intact. After almost two decades working in the craft chocolate sphere, she’s more than qualified to dole that out, too. Cynthia’s company of SoMA Chocolate is one of the oldest small-batch chocolate makers in the world. From her factory in Toronto, Canada, we talk about the landscape of cacao...

Mackenzie Rivers is the founder, owner, and sole chocolate maker behind Map Chocolate, based in Oregon, USA. For the last half decade she’s been “pushing that $50 forward” to build her dream company and pursure her many projects. Bursting with a million creative ideas but just two hands, her recent ventures include chocolate making workshops, a new retail space, and craft chocolate pantry goods. Map Chocolate’s become quite well-known on Instagram for its gorgeous and real looks at what it’s...

Mackenzie Rivers is the founder, owner, and sole chocolate maker behind Map Chocolate, based in Oregon, USA. For the last half decade she’s been “pushing that $50 forward” to build her dream company and pursure her many projects. Bursting with a million creative ideas but just two hands, her recent ventures include chocolate making workshops, a new retail space, and craft chocolate pantry goods. Map Chocolate’s become quite well-known on Instagram for its gorgeous and real looks at what it’s...

Emily Paek was one of the first craft chocolate makers in Korea (https://damecacao.com/eat-chocolate-seoul/), and quite frankly, it’s been a long road to journey down. Over the last few years I’ve had the honor of watching Emily’s chocolate brand, Public Chocolatory, grow into its space and educate the Korean public as to the merits of craft chocolate. Being located outside of Seoul, where the majority of tourists stay, has been both a blessing and a curse. While Emily has no chocolate...

Emily Paek was one of the first craft chocolate makers in Korea (https://damecacao.com/eat-chocolate-seoul/), and quite frankly, it’s been a long road to journey down. Over the last few years I’ve had the honor of watching Emily’s chocolate brand, Public Chocolatory, grow into its space and educate the Korean public as to the merits of craft chocolate. Being located outside of Seoul, where the majority of tourists stay, has been both a blessing and a curse. While Emily has no chocolate...

Greg D’Alesandre is almost beyond description. Since 2012 he’s been a part of the Dandelion Chocolate team, building up a sustainable and reputable company which links cacao producers and consumers through chocolate. His self-designated title of cacao sourcerer (whether there’s true magic involved, we’ll never know) is a nod to his extensive work with cacao producers around the world, now numbering over 30 countries and hundreds of farms visited. This interview is a frank glimpse into some of...

Greg D’Alesandre is almost beyond description. Since 2012 he’s been a part of the Dandelion Chocolate team, building up a sustainable and reputable company which links cacao producers and consumers through chocolate. His self-designated title of cacao sourcerer (whether there’s true magic involved, we’ll never know) is a nod to his extensive work with cacao producers around the world, now numbering over 30 countries and hundreds of farms visited. This interview is a frank glimpse into some of...