The Chocolate Detective Puffin Eggs

12 Dark Chocolate Eggs filled with Salted Caramle Ganache

Started by Chantal Coady, The Chocolate Detective 

Birds Eggs “laid in France”

As part of our CURATE collection, we have sourced these eggs from a company that I have worked with for over 40 years. I trust their sourcing of cocoa and I can share that they moved away from West African cocoa because they were not happy with the practices there, and not able to control them. They bought a large cocoa farm in Ecuador  (San Fernando, see link and more information below) and have been working directly with the farmers.

The chocolate eggs are made from this cacao (their house couverture is bean to bar) so there is clear provenance, traceability and good working practices which avoid child labour or deforestation.  They are committed to protecting the local people and the environment; AND they are certified by the Rainforest Alliance. (see more below.)

So although the cocoa is not certified ‘Fair Trade’, they are not part of the commodity trading market, they use the Direct Trade model which is even better as they produce their own chocolate from the beans and it’s 100% traceable.

We have fact checked this with an Ecuadorian cocoa farmer friend Susana Cardenas who is also a cocoa farmer in Manabi province and she has confirmed everything above. 

We also sell her very rare and special heritage cocoa chocolate when we can get it…

https://www.cardenaschocolate.com/

Chantal Coady, January 2022

The following information comes from the supplier who make the eggs. 

• Plots are classified as agricultural (no deforestation) and there is no conflict with local communities (no land grabbing).
• No deformation of primary forest.
• Child labor is strictly prohibited.
• Workers receive training on their rights, the environment, working conditions, agricultural practices (overall, they must be made aware of all aspects of certification).
• The supervision of workers is cared for by the presence of a full-time nurse and a doctor present one day a week on the plantation.
• Structures minimize load carrying and workers have adequate protective equipment.
• The salary of the employees is higher than the Ecuadorian minimum wage.
• Employees are affiliated with Social Security, can be members of trade unions, enjoy legal holidays and work 5 days out of 7.
• The use of water is rational (archived registers, leak management, use of sustainable sources).
• Effluent control mechanisms are in place (outgoing water analysis).
• Maintenance of uncultivated areas on the plantation of several hectares (wooded areas).
• Meals with good nutritional value are provided FREE.