You can take the girl out of the chocolate, but you can't take the chocolate out of the girl. Since I closed nicobella organics, I've been on a search for the best dark chocolate that is vegan, ethical AND gives back, especially when gifting for the holidays. Below is what I've found, but first...
Why ethically sourced chocolate is important
70% of the world's chocolate is sourced from West Africa where child slavery and/or slavery is most prominent (much of it coming from Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire). The Food Empowerment Project does not recommend any chocolate coming from West Africa since there is still slavery influence in West Africa and no guarantee that the cacao beans sourced from West Africa are indeed ethically sourced. Read more about slavery chocolate here. You can look for Fair Trade or Fair for Life certifications, however, there can be flaws in the certification process. Read more about the certifications here.
Know your source
When selecting chocolate, it's helpful to know the origin of the cacao beans. Choose chocolate from South and Central America, Dominican Republic, Tanzania or Madagascar (East Africa countries). Most bean-to-bar makers will list the origin and perhaps even the farmers who cultivate the beans and who are heavily involved (but often get overlooked) with creating the delicious flavors you experience in the finished product.
Here are my personal top picks for ethically sourced, vegan dark chocolate companies that not only make delicious chocolate, but also give back.
1. Xocolatl
Values: I can say firsthand that this is one of my favorite chocolate companies, not just because the chocolate is one of my favorites of all time, but also because it's family-owned and their ethics are first-rate. They know their farmers, use minimal ingredients and no fillers, and give back to the Georgia Audubon Society.
Veganism: Most of their products are vegan! Even their Pumpkin Spiced "white chocolate" Bark is made with almond milk, plus delicious healing spices.
Giving Back: They work towards sustainable and equitable systems of consumption by sourcing ingredients responsibly and work directly with farmers in their processes, negotiating fair prices whenever possible.
Vegan Gifts: You can't go wrong with any of these beautiful and delicious gifts, but I just gifted someone this Dark Chocolate Decadence Box and I'm pretty confident they're feeling very happy with their chocolate assortment.
Discount Code: Free shipping on orders over $60 and 15% off your first order!
2. Askinosie
Values: "We're dedicated to Direct Trade. This means we not only know the communities from which we source our cocoa beans but more significantly, we can build long-term and mutually supportive relationships with these farmers who grow some of the world’s best cocoa." Their commitment includes:
Excellent Cocoa Beans
Financial Transparency
Open Books & Profit Sharing
Sustainability
Socially Sound Practices
Veganism: Not all Askinosie products are 100% vegan, but they have lots of vegan options like Chocolate Covered Whiskey Soaked Cacao Nibs, Peppermint Dark Chocolate Bar and Coconut Milk Chocolate Bar.
Giving Back:
Because they are Direct Trade, Askinosie pays the cocoa farmers significantly above the per-ton Fair Trade market price for their cocoa beans.
They also profit share with these farmers.
A Product of Change™, is a collaborative effort between Askinosie Chocolate, the administration and PTA of local schools, and you. When you purchase one of their Products of Change, you are providing school lunch to hungry students in these communities.
Vegan Gifts: Askinosie Single Origin Box $28, Build Your Own Chocolate Tasting Kit $36
Discount Code: Join their email list to receive 10% off your purchase. Free shipping over $55.
Values: Lending to its namesake, Equal Exchange is a co-op!
"Our co-op has over 120 worker-owners, each with an equal stake - and an equal vote - in our business. We believe that we should expect no less from ourselves and each other than we demand of our farmer partners. For that reason, we have organized ourselves as a democratic worker co-operative."
Veganism: They are not 100% vegan, but offer several vegan options. Check the ingredient list to make sure there's no dairy if you're looking for vegan.
Giving Back: Equal Exchange has worked with small farmer organizations since 1986, beginning with a co-op in Nicaragua, and now sourcing from over 40 small farmer organizations in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the United States. Read more about how they're giving back to communities here.
Vegan Gifts: Their Organic Panama Extra Dark Chocolate 80% is one of my personal faves and makes a great stocking stuffer for only $3.50 a bar or $37.50 for a 12-pack. Other vegan bars include Organic Dark Chocolate Almond and Organic Dark Chocolate Mint. P.S. They also offer coffee, bananas, avocados and other "Fair Food."
Discount Code: Receive 10% off and free shipping when you sign up for their biweekly newsletter.
4. Alter Eco
Values: "For every chocolate gift you purchase, we'll plant a tree in our reforestation project in the Peruvian Amazon." Everyone on my list is getting an Alter Eco chocolate gift this season! If we all get at least one Alter Eco gift we could collectively plant hundreds of trees that will help the climate, wildlife and indigenous people.
Not to mention, they use compostable packaging.
Veganism: They're not 100% vegan, but offer lots of delectable vegan dark chocolate bars, granola, and quinoa.
Giving Back: They plant trees, are climate neutral, give back to farmers, and are transitioning to regenerative agriculture.
Vegan Gifts: Any of their chocolates are sure to please, plus they're affordable, starting at $4.49 per bar.
Discount Code: Get 10% off off when you sign up for their newsletter.
Values: "We’ve given $1.4 million to support conservation efforts for endangered species and habitats. Our goal is to donate $1 million to conservation efforts through our GiveBack Partners." Meet their partners, including Rainforest Trust and Wildlife Conservation Net, here. They also empower their farmers and communities. Read more here.
Veganism: They're also not 100% vegan, but have lots of vegan options. Check the ingredient label for dairy.
Giving Back: 10% of their net profits are donated annually to 10% GiveBack Partners. Each is guaranteed a minimum annual donation of $10,000. "With over $1.4 million generated in the past three years alone, each chocolate purchase adds up to big support that helps wildlife thrive."
Vegan Gifts: They sell their bars online and are also sold nationally in these stores. Yummy vegan flavors include Almonds Sea Salt + Dark Chocolate, Extreme Dark Chocolate Bar and Tart Raspberries and Dark Chocolate.
Discount Code: Receive 15% off your purchase when you sign up for their newsletter. Free shipping on orders over $75.
6. Coracao
Values: Coracao is creates the cacao-powered treats you crave using only high quality, sustainably sourced and better-for-you ingredients that nourish you as well as the planet.
Veganism: Everything is vegan, gluten-free, dairy free, soy-free, peanut-free & refined sugar-free. Try their Chocolate Bars or one of their insanely delicious nut butter bars.
Giving Back: They use South American Heirloom Cacao for its balance of fruity, floral high notes & nutty undertones and source Certified Organic Cacao from regenerative farms that support lush, freen, ecological diversity. Their farming partners are paid Fair Trade wages or above. They're also an employee-owned, Certified Climate Neutral company.
Vegan Gifts: Grab their drinking chocolate for $13.95 each along with an ultra-cool set of ceramic cacao drinking cups.
Discount Codes: At the time of this blog (November 25, 2023), they're offering 25% off through the Black Friday weekend.
7. Living Raw
Values: Living Raw practices sustainability by using organic, raw, non-GMO and Fair Trade ingredients, BPA free packaging and giving back to those who need a voice (see below!).
Veganism: 100% vegan, organic, non-GMO and raw! (And delicious—my own personal addiction and substitution for nicobella truffles.)
Giving Back: "We feel it's a call to help the helpless and give a voice to those who don’t have one. Here at Living Raw, we support two Missions dear to our hearts:
Matumaini’s Mission and Operation Underground Railroad." Read more here.
Vegan Gifts: Great stocking stuffers for the foodie or health nut. Choose anything since they're all vegan! Darkest Cacao Truffles are my fave.
Discount Codes: None that I see, but it's worth the full price!
Values: This Portland, OR brand sources locally, is 100% vegan, listed as fair trade, non-GMO, and practices sustainability with compostable packaging.
Veganism: 100% vegan!
Giving Back: While there is not a charity listed on their website, I felt they deserved to be in the ethically sourced, giving back category because they are 100% vegan which always gives back to the environment and animals, just by virtue of being vegan. An added plus is that their packaging is compostable.
Vegan Gifts: With a name like Buddha Chocolate you know they're a conscious brand. Check out their beautiful Ceremony Box $108 or more economical Buddha Gift Box for $54.
Discount Code: No discount code listed, but free shipping on orders over $100.
Values: Supernatural Chocolate (formerly The Great Unbaked) are all-natural, raw, vegan and fair trade!
Veganism: 100% vegan deliciousness.
Giving Back: "All of our creations are made from the finest raw ingredients available and are acquired from fair trade suppliers and small farms. We use organic ingredients whenever possible and believe in supporting businesses that are also committed to making a difference in the lives of others. We work hard to be as eco-friendly as possible and have great respect for our beautiful planet and its resources. Most of our packaging is recycled, recyclable and/or compostable. We are a work in progress and are striving to make all our packaging and inks eco-friendly and sustainable."
Vegan Gifts: I personally LOVE their 12-Piece Garnished Truffle Box $30 (they come beautifully and sustainably packaged with a plantable notecard!).
Discount Code: I don't see any on the website but sign up for their newsletter, maybe you'll get something!
10. Divine Chocolate
Values: Divine Chocolate is a global, farmer-owned fair trade chocolate company. Their mission is to fight exploitation in cococa. Divine advocates for independent third party verification such as Fairtrade, B Corp, and Organic Certification.
Veganism: They're not all vegan, but have lots of vegan options, like 85% dark chocolate, 70% dark chocolate and raspberries, and 70% dark chocolate mint crisp.
Giving Back: Divine strives to address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – the specific targets set out by the UN aimed at ending all forms of poverty, fighting inequalities and tackling climate change. Specifically, they aim to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment. Divine Chocolate is the only Fairtrade chocolate company co-owned by cocoa farmers. And, of the 100,000 farmers who co-own the company, more than a third are women.
Vegan Gifts: Any of their vegan chocolate bars would make great stocking stuffers that give back!
Discount Code: Check their website! They're currently offering $5 off orders over $55 or $10 off orders over $80.
11. Beyond Good
Values: Beyond Good works directly with farmers (with no middlemen) to grow premium cocoa so that the farmers make more profit. Read more about their incredible sustainability efforts!
Veganism: 100% vegan, kosher, gluten-free, and soy-free - suitable for all!
Giving Back: This incredible company has teamed up with Conservation International and the Bristol Zoo to use cocoa agro-forestry to provide a home for five species of endangered lemurs. In Uganda, Beyond Good has partnered with ICAM to provide quality control and infrastructure to support their farmers.
Vegan Gifts: From toasted coconut to orange zest, Beyond Good has all the chocolate flavors for your gifting needs!
Discount Code: Free shipping on all orders over $60!
Let's exchange chocolate notes! Please let me know your fave vegan, ethically sourced chocolate brand that gives back.
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