Learn all about Chocolove premium chocolate bars. How is Chocolove different than other chocolate bars you find at the grocery store? Find out where you can buy their chocolate.
I want to pose a few questions for you.
Is all chocolate good?
Is all chocolate created equal?
Does it matter if I buy a cheaper bar of chocolate over a more expensive one?
What are your answers to these questions.
Mine?
Yes. No. Yes.
I do think in some degree all chocolate is good. My kids would definitely say yes to that.
That is up for debate. The rest of this post will be all about answering the two last questions. I'm doing so by looking at the chocolate created by my favorite chocolate producers - Chocolove.
Let me teach you how a premium chocoloate is different, in the latest edition to our What's the Difference? series.
What Does Chocolove Do Differently?
Chocolove thought it was important to be clear about how much cocoa was in their chocolate. It was not common before for companies to list the cocoa content. In fact, they were the first U.S. company to do it. You should know how much chocolate you're really getting. The higher the content, the less sugar, and the most health benefits you're getting from the chocoloate, as your getting it in a more pure form - power to you if you handle unsweetened chocolate!
Finding the cocoa content of a bar shouldn't be hard to find. Since Chocolove began, its much more common now to have the cocoa content written on the package. I have seen M&M's with their cocoa content on their dark chocolate bags.
When Chocolove was born they set out to -
- Produce chocolate bars made with quality all-natural ingredients
- Use the classic techniques of Europe's finest chocoatiers
- Create packaging that resembles a love letter sent from a far off land - add a romantic note to their chocoloate
- Cocoa content clear on the wrapper
- A simple and approachable taste
- Affordable price
I have to say, they nailed it on those goals. The price per ounce of quality chocolate is probably the best you can get at the grocery store.
Better Chocolate Starts with Better Beans
With chocolate, it's all about the beans. You can do everything else right, but it won't be exceptional without good beans. Chocolove uses beans that are fully ripened and free of any bad beans. It's similar to buying tomatoes from the grocery store that were picked green and allowed to turn red on their journey to the store. Compare those tomatoes with ones you picked from your garden. Sure you could still make a decent sauce with them but those garden fresh tomatoes will make your sauce sweeter and more flavorful.
Chocolove's cocoa beans are roasted just enough to develop the flavor. They ground the chocolate finer which gives is a smooth texture and flavor.
Is Chocolove non-GMO?
One important question that has to be addressed, is Chocolove chocolate free of GMOs? I know this is a controversial issue. I have never claimed I have done any type of scientific research. What I do know is the intentions of those that have developed GMOs and I honestly do not agree with them or think that they are needed for anything more than putting profits into already well lined pockets. With that said, I am glad that being GMO free is something Chocolove strives for.
The biggest issue comes down to the sugar that is used. In their organic chocoloate, Chocolove uses cane sugar. For the rest of their chocolate they are using beet sugar, which is in the U.S. is mostly all genetically modified. However the beet sugar Chocolove uses comes from Europe and is not genetically modified.
Any of Chocolove's bars that contain soy lecithin are made from guaranteed GMO-free soy beans.
As of now, 40 of Chocolove's products have been officially verified by the Non-GMO Project. Chocolove will not make a claim about a product being non-GMO until they can be verified, which can be a long process. I appreciate that they have the integrity not to make claims they can't verify, even if they are almost 100% positive they are right.
Chocolove's GMO Policy
Their official policy on GMOs is
As a company policy, we try to avoid ingredients that were made from plants that had insertions of non-naturally occurring genes into the genetic make-up of that plant. We strive to sell only foods that are free of genetic reconstruction.
To bracket that point we are in favor of using genetic testing to identify and preserve unique species and varieties of cocoa and identify which ones would be disease resistant. By doing so it becomes easier for the farmer to grow cocoa without the use of harsh agricultural chemicals. The subjects of genetic identification and genetic modification could get confused if not looked at carefully.
How Does Chocolove Taste Differently?
Chocolate shouldn't just be sweet. It should have some bitter tones to it. It makes the chocolate taste more complex. Same can be said for when you bake an apple pie. You don't choose the sweetest apples, you choose a tart apple, like a Granny Smith. You want that balance of sweetness and tartness.
Can you tell the difference between cheap chocolate and premium chocolate? Before Chocolove started they tested this out and the average customer can tell the difference and prefer the premium chocolate. I think other countries look at Americans has not having very refined tastes. We do have a lot of cheap, junk food in this country. But I believe when given the options, just like anyone else, we can taste the difference.
Chocolove on Sale
Meijer, Whole Foods, and Kroger to name a few stores that I find Chocolove in the Ann Arbor, Michigan area. If I am lucky one of those stores will have them on sale. All 3 of them have had them on sale this fall, so I can get an even better deal on them. My wife and I will sometimes split a bar that costs $2. So we are paying a $1 each for us. You often end up paying that much for the cheap, name brand candy bars at the checkout. Affordable. Chocolove is!
I am a Variety Guy
Varieties are awesome. I don't want to eat one type of apple all year when I can eat 60 varieties. We don't have 1 jar of honey in our house, I have 10 and they are all different varietals. As you look at Chocolove's website you see so many different varieties, whether that is in cocoa content or ingredients. It's great for a variety guy. Whoever said "variety is the spice of life" was a genius - I looked it up, William Cowper said in a poem written in 1785.
Where to Find Chocolove
Not that I got you wanting chocolate, you might want to know where to get it. Check out the store locator on Chocolove's site. It's pretty widely distributed so you should be able to find a store near you. Whole Foods Market is a great source, that Chocolove has worked with for years. Other stores to consider include Kroger, Meijer, Gelson's, Sprouts, Mother's, Bristol Farms, Walgreens, and the Fresh Market, and many others.
While looking at coverage of the earthquakes in Alaska today, I spotted some Chocolove at a grocery store in a photo where most of the shelves had been emptyed onto the floor. The Chocolve was still in place!
You can make it easy on yourself and order chocolate right from the Chocolove website.
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