I know there are not a lot of absolutes in life but here is one you can bank on: this girl absolutely loves chocolate! For as long as I can remember, my choice of sweet treat has always been chocolate... at the ice cream shop other kids would choose vanilla or strawberry or bubblegum but not me... it was always, always chocolate.When I was young, a Hershey's Kiss would meet the need when a craving overcame me, but over the years my appreciation for chocolate has deepened and my taste for it has become more sophisticated. I readily admit it, I'm a full-fledged chocolate snob! I'd rather go without than waste calories on less than fabulous chocolate. Once you have experienced the difference, it's simply impossible to go back.
Although I became familiar with Theo Chocolate about a year and a half ago after sampling their 3400 Phinney bars at a shop in Fairhaven, it was not until last fall that I ventured into the store at the Theo factory in Fremont. The store provides such a feast for the senses that I knew right away I needed to visit again with my camera. A few weeks ago I got in touch with Theo's marketing director to see about working out a photos-for-chocolate trade. The idea was met with enthusiasm so I made plans to do the shoot on my next visit to Seattle!
I was treated to a private tour by Kiki, the Theo Sales & Marketing Associate with whom I coordinated my visit. After donning our pretty hairnets, we ventured into the factory where I got to see the process of making chocolate from bean to bar. Our first stop was the room where cocoa beans from distant lands are stored and cleaned. I love knowing that these huge bags of beans came from places I only dream about... Costa Rica, Venezuela, Panama, Ecuador, Ghana, Madagascar...
I can't write about this amazing place without mentioning that not only is Theo Chocolate the only roaster of organic cocoa beans in the United States, it is also the first roaster of Fair Trade certified cocoa beans in the country. So not only do Theonistas make wonderful tasting chocolate- they do it with integrity, a characteristic I wholeheartedly endorse.
Next stop was the room where the beans are roasted and broken into nibs... I loved these big, bright buckets of beautiful cocoa nibs and their deep, fresh scent.
After the beans are broken into nibs, it is time for the refining process and this is the room where it all takes place. You can't begin to imagine how good this room smells! I know it's cliche but I felt like Augustus Gloop my mouth was watering so much! (For more information about Theo's refining process, you can take your own tour or watch a video here.)
Hazelnut Crunch Milk Chocolate. Kiki refers to it as "crack." I have to agree with Kiki: this stuff is phenomenal- just looking at this picture makes me want more!
Some treats found in the confections room. Theo's confections truly taste as good as they look... I almost feel bad eating them (but not really!) My fave? PEANUT BUTTER!
After I'd seen everything there was to see in the factory, I spent a while exploring the store in detail. Warning! Venturing into this place can leave one with a tummy ache... there are samples of everything, everywhere! YUM!
Mmmmmm..... red wine and fine chocolate. What more do we really need?
Because of the exceptional nutritional content of cocoa beans, cocoa nibs are becoming the hot new ingredient among chefs ... I'm anxious to try them in a recipe!
I loved seeing all of the clever projects imaginative Theonistas have created out of "left over" chocolate. (It's hard for me to believe there could be such a thing!)
Celebrate | Love | Chocolate.I couldn't say it any better myself.
Whether or not you're a self proclaimed chocolate snob like me, Theo Chocolate is the sort of business we should all hasten to support simply for its sustainable business practices. I have to say, knowing the chocolate I treat myself to is actually helping to make the world a better place makes it taste just that much sweeter : )
To Kiki & Deb & all the friendly Theonistas I met, thank you so much for letting me wander your halls with my camera. It was really cool to be around so many people who, like me, so obviously love their job : ) You all have a fan for life!
To Kiki & Deb & all the friendly Theonistas I met, thank you so much for letting me wander your halls with my camera. It was really cool to be around so many people who, like me, so obviously love their job : ) You all have a fan for life!
