Our focus is simple: highlight amazing small-batch chocolate made with clear origins, strong ethics, and real flavour. These makers do it exceptionally well — thoughtful people, making world-class chocolate, with a genuine commitment to how it’s produced.
Scott and Emilie are adventurers whose love for cacao took root during their travels across the cacao heartlands of Latin America. From planting cacao seedlings in the Amazon Basin of Bolivia to forging personal relationships in Nicaragua’s lush landscapes, their journey reflects a genuine connection rare amongst chocolate makers. Their work started in 2017 while filming an agroforestry documentary—a project that literally planted seeds in the area where cacao was first domesticated thousands of years ago. After years of exploration, they settled in Guatemala to work with cacao, laying the foundation for what would become Black Jaguar. Today, they craft exceptional chocolate on Vancouver Island, using beans exclusively sourced from heirloom cacao grown in La Dalia, Nicaragua, and certified by the Heirloom Cacao Preservation Fund, as well as cacao from the Bosawás Biosphere Reserve, the second largest rainforest in the Western Hemisphere and home to 13% of the world’s known plant and animal species. They also enjoy foraging on the Island, creating unique bars that weave together the flavors of cacao’s origins with the essence of their Vancouver Island home.
SHOP ALLKasama 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.
SHOP ALLMark Wallace spent years working overseas with cocoa farmers in the West African jungle – a rare experience that sets him apart in the world of chocolate making. Upon returning to Victoria, Canada, he transitioned his deep knowledge of cacao into crafting fine specialty chocolate, all while maintaining his passion for supporting farmers and their communities. All of Mark's cocoa is directly sourced and transparently traded, with most also being organic, heirloom, and chemical input-free. He conducts thorough background research and due diligence on the labour and environmental practices of each supplier. Additionally, his packaging is compostable and recyclable. Another thing I love about Mark's approach is his dedication to showcasing the best of select cocoa-growing areas, highlighting quality over quantity by focusing on one special, intentional bar that's expressive of each region. He takes pride in expressing the flavours of the cocoa origins and shares detailed, often personal, accounts of the farms and growers.
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