Karuna Date Sugar 80%

Cocoa Origin: Dominican Republic
Producer Country: Italy
Weight: 60 g

This organic cocoa is sourced from 180 farms in the El Cibao region of Duarte. Öko Caribe ferments and dries the beans in the village of Pimentel in San Francisco de Macorís. Like its sister bar, Karuna Öko Caribe Dominican Republic 80%, this is one big, brooding dark chocolate with no short supply of tannin and coffee flavours. The date sugar adds a dried fruit finish (prune, raisin, or, dates, obviously) that marries beautifully with the cocoa qualities. It has a chewy texture that properly coats the entire mouth in rich, bitter, dark chocolatey goodness.

$15.99

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Karuna Date Sugar 80%

$15.99

Katya and Armin, the couple behind Karuna, operate from the heart of the Italian Alps, but their journey with chocolate began in a very different place: southern India (an inspiration evoked in the beautiful shapes on their bars and packaging). There, they were introduced to locals growing and producing cocoa, which sparked their curiosity. They soon learned about hobbyists in America making single-origin chocolates by hand, a concept that reminded them of how the craft beer renaissance was driven by homebrewers, which had inspired so much innovation and creativity. Excited by the prospect of a new hobby, Katya and Armin began making chocolate using basic tools. Upon returning to Italy, they found only a few artisan manufacturers in Europe making the kind of chocolate they desired. Undeterred, they decided to follow in the footsteps of the homebrewers and create the chocolate they wanted themselves. Thus, Karuna Chocolate was born.

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Duarte, one of the Dominican Republic's 32 provinces, is located in the northeast and named after the country's founder. Part of the broader region known as "El Cibao," it boasts the highest levels of education, industry, and economic prosperity in the country. El Cibao is also considered the cultural heartland of the Dominican Republic, being the birthplace of Merengue music (the original folk type, known as perico ripiao, is still performed by local musical groups). The region hosts long-standing and historic carnival celebrations and the local accent is a unique blend, reflecting influences from 16th- and 17th-century Portuguese colonists and 18th-century Canarian settlers. Within El Cibao lies the Cordillera Central mountain range, home to the Caribbean's highest peak, Pico Duarte. The region is also blessed with two of the country's largest rivers which play a vital role in irrigating its agriculture. Furthermore, Duarte plays a crucial role in mining, boasting the largest gold mine in the Americas and the second-largest globally. It is also home to Öko-Caribe, a renowned cocoa supplier that works with local farmers and is known for its exceptional quality, high standards, and admirable business practices.

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