Kasama Chocolate is based out of Vancouver’s iconic Granville Island, a renowned hub for artists, crafters, and, above all, a really great food market. Founded in 2015 by Vincent, Stefan, Oliver, and Dominik — four long-time friends who chose the Tagalog word ‘Kasama,’ meaning friendship, camaraderie, and collaboration, to embody their ethos. The company’s connection to the Philippines goes beyond its name. They partnered with the University of British Columbia’s Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, local farmers, and small community stakeholders to initiate a sustainable cacao planting and research project in Cagayan Province, near the Sierra Madre mountains in Northern Luzon. This initiative underscores their commitment to supporting local communities and advancing sustainable agricultural practices. In addition to their Filipino project, Kasama sources cocoa from at least eight other countries, always prioritizing direct relationships with small farmers to ensure fair trade and sustainability. Their bars have plenty of awards to support this curator’s personal opinion that they are one of North America’s premier bean-to-bar chocolate producers.