Forum Activity for @Hallot Parson

American, Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Makers: A Complete List

Posted in: Tasting Notes

Hi - Thanks for visiting my shop!Our shop is indeed small. The area that I have for production is about equal to the same size that occupies my retail space. I also have off premise storage. Is it adequate for bean to bar - with efficient use of space, yes...sort of! By adapting equipment and techniques for smaller scale, it is possible. I have even considered making all of the chocolate that we use for our truffles and confections, and doing away with couveture altogether. Unfortunately, in Raleigh I dont think enough people understand the difference yet to make it worthwhile. That being said, I anticipate moving production of all of my bars to another location and using the glenwood space for sales and production of the retail chocolates.When our made from the bean bar comes out next month, it will be available in the shop and through our website only - My production doesnt allow for wholesale at the moment which is what makes up 80% of my current business. Those bigger guys - Theo, etc have the space, equipment and labor to do wholesale... its baby steps for me!Thanks.Hallot ParsonEscazu Artisan Chocolates

American, Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Makers: A Complete List

Posted in: Tasting Notes

If a chocolate company is NOT bean to bar, but uses couverture what is that kind of company called? I've heard them called "chocolatier", but is that an accurate and widely used label?

American, Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Makers: A Complete List

Posted in: Tasting Notes

Hi Cybele,Good catch. The website isn't clear about that here: http://www.wilburchocolate.com/ But I did a little checking and found this: http://www.wilburbuds.com/ Updated List: Amano Artisan ChocolateAmbrosia (ADM-owned, bean-to-couverture)Askinosie ChocolateBittersweet Chocolate Cafe (Seneca is doing some micro-batch bars)Blommer Chocolate CompanyCioccolato (located in Wyoming and Mexico--bean-to-bonbon)De Vries ChocolateDe Zaan (ADM-owned, bean-to-couverture)Escazu Chocolates (just starting to release a bean-to-bar line)Fearless Chocolate Company (raw)Ghirardelli (Owned by Lindt in Switzerland)GuittardJacques TorresKraft (German-owned)MarsMast BrothersMerkens (ADM-owned, bean-to-couverture)Nestle (Swiss-owned)Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory (also grows their beans on American soil)Patric ChocolatePeters (Cargill-owned, bean-to-couverture)Rogue ChocolatierSacred Chocolate (raw)Scharffen BergerSoma Chocolatemaker (actually in Canada)TazaTchoTheoVan Leer (Belgian-owned)Wilbur (Cargill-owned, bean-to-bar)World's Finest Chocolate

American, Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Makers: A Complete List

Posted in: Tasting Notes

ADM is a huge agri-food conglomerate, similar to Cargill.It stands for Archer Daniels Midland.Here's info on their Candy & Chocolate division: http://www.admworld.com/naen/food/candy.asp For the record, here's Cargill's info: http://www.cargill.com/products/food/ps_cocoa.htm
updated by @cybele: 09/12/15 12:32:16

American, Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Makers: A Complete List

Posted in: Tasting Notes

Wilbur makes "bean-to-bar" or other confections that are available to the public, not just couveture to the trade.

American, Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Makers: A Complete List

Posted in: Tasting Notes

I'm adding these from the other discussion of worldwide bean to bar makers:Jacques TorresKraftNestleComplete listAmanoAmbrosia (ADM-owned, bean-to-couverture)AskinosieBittersweet Chocolate Cafe (Seneca is doing some really micro-batch bars)BlommerChocolate Haven (Jacques Torres)Cioccolato (located in Wyoming and Mexico--bean-to-bonbon)DeVriesDe Zaan (ADM-owned, bean-to-couverture)Escazu Chocolates (just starting to release a bean-to-bar line)Fearless Chocolate Company (raw)Ghirardelli (Owned by Lindt in Switzerland)GuittardJacques TorresKraftMarsMast BrothersMerkens (ADM-owned, bean-to-couverture)NestleOriginal Hawaiian Chocolate Factory (also grows their beans on American soil)Patric ChocolatePeters (Cargill-owned, bean-to-couverture)Rogue ChocolatierSacred Chocolate (raw)Scharffen BergerSoma Chocolatemaker (actually in Canada)TazaTchoTheoVan Leer (Belgian-owned)Wilbur (Cargill owned, bean-to-couverture)World's Finest Chocolate

American, Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Makers: A Complete List

Posted in: Tasting Notes

What does "ADM-owned" mean?

American, Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Makers: A Complete List

Posted in: Tasting Notes

Oops. You're right, Clay. I just checked with them, and they are still not a bean-to-bar. I deleted Elbow from the restored list below.Amano Artisan ChocolateAmbrosia (ADM-owned, bean-to-couverture)Askinosie ChocolateBittersweet Chocolate Cafe (Seneca is doing some really micro-batch bars)BlommerChocolate Haven (Jacques Torres)Cioccolato (located in Wyoming and Mexico--bean-to-bonbon)De Vries ChocolateDe Zaan (ADM-owned, bean-to-couverture)Escazu Chocolates (just starting to release a bean-to-bar line)Fearless Chocolate Company (raw)Ghirardelli (Owned by Lindt in Switzerland)GuittardMarsMast BrothersMerkens (ADM-owned, bean-to-couverture)Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory (also grows their beans on American soil)Patric ChocolatePeters (Cargill-owned, bean-to-couverture)Rogue ChocolatierSacred Chocolate (raw)Scharffen BergerSoma Chocolatemaker (actually in Canada)TazaTchoTheoVan Leer (Belgian-owned)Wilbur (Cargill owned, bean-to-couverture)World's Finest Chocolate

American, Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Makers: A Complete List

Posted in: Tasting Notes

Christopher is making chocolate from beans? That's new. Can anyone independently confirm this?

American, Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Makers: A Complete List

Posted in: Tasting Notes

I just added Christopher Elbow to the list.Amano Artisan ChocolateAmbrosia (ADM-owned, bean-to-couverture)Askinosie ChocolateBittersweet Chocolate Cafe (Seneca is doing some really micro-batch bars)BlommerChocolate Haven (Jacques Torres)Christopher ElbowCioccolato (located in Wyoming and Mexico--bean-to-bonbon)De Vries ChocolateDe Zaan (ADM-owned, bean-to-couverture)Escazu Chocolates (just starting to release a bean-to-bar line)Fearless Chocolate Company (raw)Ghirardelli (Owned by Lindt in Switzerland)GuittardMarsMast BrothersMerkens (ADM-owned, bean-to-couverture)Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory (also grows their beans on American soil)Patric ChocolatePeters (Cargill-owned, bean-to-couverture)Rogue ChocolatierSacred Chocolate (raw)Scharffen BergerSoma Chocolatemaker (actually in Canada)TazaTchoTheoVan Leer (Belgian-owned)Wilbur (Cargill owned, bean-to-couverture)World's Finest Chocolate

American, Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Makers: A Complete List

Posted in: Tasting Notes

I would think so. You could certainly e-mail Hal at Escazu and ask him this very question, but my impression is that we are not talking "Theo-sized" in the least.

American, Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Makers: A Complete List

Posted in: Tasting Notes

Thank you Theo for taking care of that!I have edited and fixed some--of my--typos, and fixed and completed some names:Amano Artisan ChocolateAmbrosia (ADM-owned, bean-to-couverture)Askinosie ChocolateBittersweet Chocolate Cafe (Seneca is doing some really micro-batch bars)BlommerChocolate Haven (Jacques Torres)Cioccolato (located in Wyoming and Mexico--bean-to-bonbon)De Vries ChocolateDe Zaan (ADM-owned, bean-to-couverture)Escazu Chocolates (just starting to release a bean-to-bar line)Fearless Chocolate Company (raw)Ghirardelli (Owned by Lindt in Switzerland)GuittardMarsMast BrothersMerkens (ADM-owned, bean-to-couverture)Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory (also grows their beans on American soil)Patric ChocolatePeters (Cargill-owned, bean-to-couverture)Rogue ChocolatierSacred Chocolate (raw)Scharffen BergerSoma Chocolatemaker (actually in Canada)TazaTchoTheoVan Leer (Belgian-owned)Wilbur (Cargill owned, bean-to-couverture)World's Finest Chocolate

American, Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Makers: A Complete List

Posted in: Tasting Notes

A question about Escazu...They're in my city, so I recently visited their store. The building is only the size of a small one story house, and the shop seems to take up most of the space, so I got to wondering what is the minimum amount of space for the equipment that one would need to be able to make chocolate from bean to bar? I've only been to Theo in Seattle, (but I didn't have time for the factory tour) but they have a very large warehouse size building. I've also seen pictures on the internet and the equipment for each stage ooks really large, but maybe that's for a huge company. Would Escazu be considered microbatch?

American, Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Makers: A Complete List

Posted in: Tasting Notes

This list is very helpful. Alan, you really know your stuff and you must have access to some good resources to add so much to this list! The list is getting so long that I alphabetized it. If you add to the list please put new entries in their correct spot in the alphabetized list.AmanoAmbrosia (ADM-owned bean-to-couverture)AskinosieBittersweet Chocolate Cafe (Seneca is doing some really micro-batch bars)BlommerChocolate Haven (Jacques Torres)Cioccolato (located in Wyoming and Mexico; bean-to-bonbon)DevriesDe Zaan (ADM-owned bean-to-couverture)Escazu Chocolates (just starting to release a bean-to-bar line)Fearless Chocolate Company (raw)Ghirardelli (Owned by Lindt in Switzerland)GuittardMarsMast BrothersMerkens (ADM-owned bean-to-couverture)Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory (also grows their beans on American soil)PatricPeters (Cargill-owned, bean-to-couverture)Rogue ChocolatierSacred Chocolate (raw)Scharffen BergerSoma Chocolatemaker (actually in Canada)TchoTheoTazaTchoVan Leer (Belgian-owned)Wilbur (Cargill owned, bean-to-couverture)World's Finest Chocolate

American, Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Makers: A Complete List

Posted in: Tasting Notes

Thanks Clay, and everyone else.Well, maybe in order to create as much awareness of how things are organized as possible, it makes sense to include larger bean-to-couverture brands, and even foreign-owned brands that have manufacturing plants in the US. However, I think that it would be good to add the extra information parenthetically. I'll start below.Complete List So Far:GuittardScharffen BergerTheoPatricDevriesAmanoAskinosieTchoMast BrothersOriginal Hawaiian Chocolate Factory (also grows their beans on American soil)TazaTchoRogue ChocolatierBlommerChocolate Haven (Jacques Torres)Ambrosia (ADM-owned bean-to-couverture)Merkens (ADM-owned bean-to-couverture)De Zaan (ADM-owned bean-to-couverture)Soma Chocolatemaker (actually in Canada)Cioccolato (located in Wyoming and Mexico; bean-to-bonbon)World's Finest ChocolateBittersweet Chocolate Cafe (Seneca is doing some really micro-batch bars)MarsSacred Chocolate (raw)Fearless Chocolate Company (raw)Escazu Chocolates (just starting to release a bean-to-bar line)Van Leer (Belgian-owned)Wilbur (Cargill owned, bean-to-couverture)Peters (Cargill-owned, bean-to-couverture)Ghirardelli (Owned by Lindt in Switzerland)As I understand it, the only Lindt-owned factory in the US, is the Ghirardelli factory in California. Please correct me if I am wrong. Also, in Casey's thread, Kraft is mentioned. Do they make chocolate in the US, and if so, what is it that they are making? They are German-owned as far as I can tell.Regarding Kakawa, I am not sure. I visited their site and they mention blending chocolates. Does anyone have any further info? Finally, I've heard through the grapevine that Jacques Torres is not making bean-to-bar chocolate anymore. Can anyone confirm or deny this?

American, Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Makers: A Complete List

Posted in: Tasting Notes

Care to include a Canadian company? Soma in Toronto.Also, Oscar Ortega of Cioccolato in Jackson Hole, WY (he is also the captain of the Mexican team for this year's World Pastry Forum) makes small batches of chocolate that he uses in his confections. There are also branches in Mexico City and La Paz, MX, but I don't know if everything is owned by a Mexican company or a US company.Also, take a look at Kakawa . Mark Sciscenti is the proprietor. From their site: "Please note that we are a small artisanal chocolate maker. ... And, of course, we make and sell chocolate elixirs, wonderful and exotically flavored chocolate truffles, and dark molded chocolates." I think the latter counts as a "bar" in the broadest sense of the word.Also: World's Finest Chocolate .What about ADM or one of its brands? I know they're industrial, but they include Ambrosia and Merckens as well as De Zaan. Maybe they're not bars - but their chocolates are molded by others into bars.

American, Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Makers: A Complete List

Posted in: Tasting Notes

I'm adding to the list:GuittardScharffen BergerTheoPatricDevriesAmanoAskinosieTchoMast BrothersOriginal Hawaiian Chocolate Factory (also grows their beans on American soil)TazaTchoRogue ChocolatierBlommerChocolate Haven (Jacques Torres)

American, Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Makers: A Complete List

Posted in: Tasting Notes

Thanks, I see that now. Well, hopefully the additional ones that we come up with here can be added to her list as well. Also, personally I'd like to stick to American-owned companies, and not include companies that have manufacturing facilities in the US, but that are foreign-owned.

American, Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Makers: A Complete List

Posted in: Tasting Notes

Complete List:GuittardScharffen BergerTheoPatricDevriesAmanoAskinosieTchoMast BrothersOriginal Hawaiin Chocolate Factory (also grows their beans on American soil)TazaTchoRogue ChocolatierBlommer

American, Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Makers: A Complete List

Posted in: Tasting Notes

I just remembered, Casey started a similar discussion in the Uncategorized Forum covering all bean to bar making countries.

American, Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Makers: A Complete List

Posted in: Tasting Notes

Complete List:GuittardScharffen BergerTheoPatricDevriesAmanoAskinosieTchoMast BrothersOriginal Hawaiin Chocolate Factory (also grows their beans on American soil)TazaTchoThere are several more companies, many of them larger companies, but I'm not sure the point was for one person to complete the whole list.

American, Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Makers: A Complete List

Posted in: Tasting Notes

Complete List:GuittardScharffen BergerTheo

American, Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Makers: A Complete List

Posted in: Tasting Notes

Complete List:GuittardScharffen Berger

American, Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Makers: A Complete List

Posted in: Tasting Notes

Hi All,I have never seen a complete list of American, bean-to-bar chocolate makers. Since most American companies that market chocolate or chocolate products don't actually make it, I thought that it would be interesting to compile a list for everyone to see who really does make it, and who doesn't.I'll type the first entry, and if everyone could copy it and add to it in each additional post, along with comments and questions, then that would be great.Complete List:Guittard
updated by @Alan McClure: 04/10/15 01:49:33

A Gaffe of Amazonian Proportions?

Posted in: Opinion

ah the old child labor conundrum.here is the deal folks. Wether or not iit is "fair trade', which BTW is a crock of s**t when it comes to the contracts that transfair USA makes the farmers sign....another issue...Most cacao farms are small family run operations in , well....you know where they are. Excluding african sources lets take a moment and think about what it takes for a subsistance farmer of cacao to bring in his crop. We'll start with latin america. predominantly catholic through genocide, the prevailing culture is one of "family", large families. If you have X number of children to feed and you grow cacao it is only natural for the whole family to be involved in the harvesting and processing of the crop. This is NOT child slavery, this is family farming. Most of the small co-operatives in the organic/fair trade niche are just that, family run orchards. There is nothing wrong with having your family work the fields. This is different than the forced child labor we read about years ago in africa.As a small farmer myself I too get my whole family involved in the harvesting of my crops. If we dont all pitch in it dies on the vine so to speak and my daughter helps gladly---sometimes---but I have not had to beat her to do it.....yet...j/k

A Gaffe of Amazonian Proportions?

Posted in: Opinion

We've got no midges (tropical gnats) to pollinate the flowers. Oh well. Can't have everything.

A Gaffe of Amazonian Proportions?

Posted in: Opinion

Why can't you grow it in a greenhouse? I know it's finicky, but I got my house plant from a greenhouse where they thrived, and it occasionally flowers.

A Gaffe of Amazonian Proportions?

Posted in: Opinion

Maybe the kids escaped from the Nestl orchard across the way, like transgenic pollen. Watch out or they'll sue!

A Gaffe of Amazonian Proportions?

Posted in: Opinion

Hahaha! It's dangerous out there in the chocolate "field". I had to research "chocolate massage oil" and the links that popped up!! But on to your point about child labor, the mainstream press picked up the slavery story behind some cacao production a few years back, but the more insidious story of child labor - still accepted in so many developing countries - has not been reported as much. Raises issues of poverty, despair, global incongruities, etc. - headlines that upset our complacent comfort with having lots of food from around the world whenever we want it for not a lot money. But you know all this. I'm working with Transfair & WCF for all the latest scoop. Wish we could grow chocolate in a local greenhouse bubble.

A Gaffe of Amazonian Proportions?

Posted in: Opinion

I admit it. I buy things from Amazon. And because I gave them an e-mail address so they can send notifications about my orders, they also send me notices of books I might be interested in.I received a notice a while back about a book that Amazon thought I might be interested in because they noticed that other people who purchased some of the same books I purchases also expressed interest in a book titled Bella's Chocolate Surprise .Bella's chocolate surprise? At first I wondered why (frantic mental ransacking of everything I've ever ordered from Amazon) they were sending me recommendations for books about interracial sex. When I loaded the images in the e-mail in my mail program, I realized it was a kid's book. Cue the sigh of relief.

Imagine my surprise when I read: Lessons about fair trade are at the center of this adventure that begins on Bella's birthday. Her mother has baked a chocolate cake and, delicious though it is, Bella begins to wonder where chocolate comes from. With the help of her friend the Quetzal bird, Bella harnesses the powers of her mystical pendant and flies to Ghana in West Africa, where she befriends a group of children working in the cacao fields. Children working in cacao fields? Apart from the fact that they're not fields (I think technically they are orchards because they are trees), what the [expletive deleted] are children doing working on a fair trade certified farm? Isn't one of the central tenets of the fair trade movement that there be no child labor involved - not just forced child labor?
updated by @Clay Gordon: 06/04/15 16:05:12

My Chocolate Journal

Posted in: Tasting Notes

Cool... I totaly understand....just wanted to make sure you got the mail.

My Chocolate Journal

Posted in: Tasting Notes

Patrick,I got your email. Thanks. I've just been putting time into other things, so I haven't replied to you yet. It's no big deal, but I'll try to get to it.

My Chocolate Journal

Posted in: Tasting Notes

I have sent you an email at the address above buy have not heard back from you... Feel free to post your question here (it it is ok with you Clay?) or use the contact us form at the bottom of our website.

My Chocolate Journal

Posted in: Tasting Notes

Patrick:Thanks for the good humor and for the posts you've made. I am a little sensitive to this issue because it's one I have run into a lot with all of my other web publishing efforts. You'll notice that one of the Golden Rules is that I don't tolerate MLM/networking marketing companies. I have had a lot of bad experiences with one company in particular where associates would register on one of my sites and within moments their first post was one selling their product and inviting people to be a part of their downline. I try very hard to create an environment where people don't think they're constantly being sold to.Regarding SeventyPercent.com. I haven't spent a lot of time there even though Martin Christy and I were corresponding around the time he officially started up. I am certainly hoping that we will be able to retain a sense of humor here. I mention that specifically in my book ... "Take a Deep Breath and Repeat After Me: It's Just Chocolate."We can have fun and take chocolate seriously - but we need to be careful not to take ourselves too seriously. After all, in the end it is just chocolate.That said, welcome again and I look forward to your continued involvement here.:: Clay

My Chocolate Journal

Posted in: Tasting Notes

Clay,Thanks for the note and no, this will not be my only post! I look forward to discussions here! I had been on SeventyPercent.com and it got to be a bit too pretentious.Patrick

My Chocolate Journal

Posted in: Tasting Notes

Patrick,My Chocolate Journal is a good site with lots of potential. I was a member there before I joined here. I have a question for you, but I can't find a way to contact you. Would you please email me at olorin7 (at) gmail.com ?Thanks.

My Chocolate Journal

Posted in: Tasting Notes

Hey Patrick:Welcome to The Chocolate Life. I hope that this does not constitute your only contribution to this community and not just a way to drive traffic to yours.As you've made this a public discussion, I would appreciate it if people who do visit MyChocolateJournal post their impressions here and not (just) privately.:: Clay

My Chocolate Journal

Posted in: Tasting Notes

Hi Everyone,This is a great little community I stumbled upon today! Lots of great information.I wanted to also invite everyone over to my chocolate review website, www.MyChocolateJournal.com . I have been running the site for about 18 months and we are finally starting to get quite a few really good reviews. Check us out and message me if you like what you see.Patrick
updated by @Patrick Sikes: 04/15/15 18:13:24

Must Eats: Chocolate in SF and Vegas

Posted in: Travels & Adventures

Ethel M in Vegas has a fun tour. There chocolate is Godiva+ quality/taste. I did really like there orange cremes.They are way off the strip though so you will need a car or take a tour that includes it as a stop. We called to find out how much a taxi was but took a bus tour to Ethel M, Hoover Dam & lunch for less than a taxi ride...Patrick

Must Eats: Chocolate in SF and Vegas

Posted in: Travels & Adventures

Thanks Sandra - I'm already vibrating just thinking about it. Ian

Must Eats: Chocolate in SF and Vegas

Posted in: Travels & Adventures

No worries

Must Eats: Chocolate in SF and Vegas

Posted in: Travels & Adventures

Re. San Francisco-- My fondest wish is to get there this summer and write a chocolate guide.My current list:Christopher Elbow Artisanal ChocolateChocolate Heaven,Chocolate CoveredChocolatBittersweet, The Chocolate Caf,Coco-luxe Confections,Cocoa Bella Chocolates,Shaw's ConfectionsXOX TrufflesTeuscher,San Francisco Chocolate Factory