Chocolate On The Road

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OmNom Chocolate has become semi-famous over the last year, thanks to a Zac Efron show on Netflix. But even before that overnight explosion, OmNom had been quite famous within the craft chocolate industry in its own right. From their rainbow-hued wolf icon to their bold Icelandic flavors— like sea salt and licorice or burnt barley— they’re memorable, to say the least. And as co-founder, Kjartan has been there for all of it. Over the course of the pandemic, he’s learned to roll with the punches more than ever, first depending upon the Icelandic public to keep them in business, and then manically trying to keep up with demand. In this interview, we dig into topics like production capacity, craft chocolate ice cream, and the tourist attractions in Reykjavik. So without further ado, here’s my interview with Kjartan. I hope you enjoy listening to our conversation as much as I enjoyed having it. Show Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chocolateontheroad/ Show Notes: https://damecacao.com/interview-kjartan-gislason-omnom-chocolate

INTERVIEW: Kjartan Gíslason, Co-founder of OmNom Chocolate

Julia & Roger Rodriguez opened the doors to their shop in February 2020, less than a month after their wedding ceremony. Nearly a year in the making, and their official grand opening was waylaid by covid. And then waylaid again. And eventually it was cancelled altogether, plans were scrapped, and big changes had to be made to keep Vesta alive— they went full bare bones. Working just outside of New York City, at the height of the pandemic, the couple hustled to drum up interest through Easter, and then Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. But not only did they survive the worst of it, but they’ve thrived, doing well from the start thanks to good advertising. In this interview, we dig into the early days of Vesta, as well as bootstrapped marketing and the future of social media. So without further ado, here’s my interview with Roger and Julia. I hope you enjoy listening to our conversation as much as I enjoyed having it. Show Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chocolateontheroad/ Show Notes: https://damecacao.com/interview-julia-choi-roger-rodriguez-vesta-chocolate

Interview: Julia Choi-Rodriguez & Roger Rodriguez, Cofounders of Vesta Chocolate

Gillian Goddard puts her money where her intention is, carefully choosing how her business spends its resources in order to have the greatest positive impact. She’s a self-proclaimed “disruptor” in the chocolate industry, and I’ve seen no evidence to dispute that; her systems bring to life the concept of entrepreneurship as activism. Over the last few decades, Gillian has built up a number of businesses in Trinidad & Tobago, each rippling into and often overlapping with or absorbing the last, but all having to do with challenging existing systems which get our favorite chocolate bars onto shelves and into our hands. Whether you’ve tried her chocolates or not, you’ll certainly connect with her message— everyone deserves to earn a decent living. If you work hard every single day, you deserve to be able to afford the basic necessities plus a bit more. Yet most of the world’s farmers live in poverty. In this interview, Gillian & I dig into topics like diversification of income, bullying, and empowerment through creation. I hope you enjoy listening to our conversation as much as I enjoyed having it. Show Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chocolateontheroad/ Show Notes: https://damecacao.com/interview-gillian-goddard-sun-eaters

INTERVIEW: Gillian Goddard, Activist Chocolate Maker at Sun Eaters Organics

Even over the phone, Erin Andrews is someone you just feel drawn to continue chatting and laughing along with. Having founded her first chocolate company in Belize in 2008, over the last thirteen years Erin has used this extroverted superpower to build up a subsequent chocolate company in her home of Seattle. That company is indi Chocolate, named after her oldest daughter, who actually inspired the brand’s oldest product line: cocoa butter-based lotions. indi has since grown into a large fishbowl-style café in Pike Place Market, where Erin has managed to keep on her staff and even take in new business, thanks to some pandemic-fueled creativity. This is actually a hallmark of her approach, as Erin maintains tabs on what her customers are interested in, and then finds the most delicious and sustainable way to satisfy them. In this interview, we discuss topics like working at origin, slave-free chocolate, and community-based business building. I hope you enjoy listening to our conversation as much as I enjoyed having it. Show Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chocolateontheroad/ Show Notes: https://damecacao.com/interview-erin-andrews-indi-chocolate/

INTERVIEW: Erin Andrews, Founder of indi Chocolate

Very few chocolate makers are truly going down a new and unusual path these days, and honestly, at first glance, neither is Will Marx. He’s making (mostly) plain dark chocolates from ethically sourced single origin cacao. But simplicity can be a good thing— it takes away the complicated window dressing and opens up the world of artisan food to a larger group of consumers. In it’s own way, that’s sort of revolutionary. Over the last year in particular, Will’s been restructuring his business in uncommon ways in order to more closely match his core values of high ethics, high flavor, and low environmental impact. So in this interview, the two of us dig into refined sugars, fine liquor, and enlightened outsourcing. Show Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chocolateontheroad/ Show Notes: https://damecacao.com/interview-will-marx-wm-chocolate/

INTERVIEW: Will Marx, Founder of WM Chocolate

In the chocolate world, there are very few in-betweens. Most of us either buy or sell chocolate, whether we make it ourselves or curate it for customers. Megan Giller’s case is a bit different; she’s more of a go-between than an in-between, connecting readers to remarkable treats from around the world. Since even before her book— Bean To Bar Chocolate: America’s Craft Chocolate Revolution— came out in 2017, she’s been bringing the good word of great chocolate to thousands of readers on sites like Forbes, Chowhound, and Engadget. But a person’s always more dynamic than their writing, even when they’re as talented as Megan. So in this interview, the two of us get into her start as a freelancer, weed-infused chocolates, and the intersection between feminism & chocolate. I hope you enjoy listening to our conversation as much as I enjoyed having it. Show Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chocolateontheroad/ Show Notes: https://damecacao.com/interview-megan-giller-chocolate-noise/

INTERVIEW: Megan Giller, Author of Bean To Bar & Chocolate Noise

Pashmina kinda started Bar & Cocoa “by accident,” with co-founder and former co-owner Chris Lacey, back when they were offering craft chocolate subscription boxes under the name “ChocoRush.” Fast forward half a decade and a few big moves, and Pashmina is now running one of the world’s largest online craft chocolate retailers, offering nearly 80 makers & 800+ products. Each brand was carefully chose by Pashmina herself; she’s even helped many of them get FDA certification for their products. The company’s selection is growing quickly, and with the holidays coming up, I wanted to make sure we all have a better sense of the mammoth that a retail business can be— even if they haven’t physically seen any customers in nearly a year. So in this interview, Pashmina & I dig into global warming, social-based marketing, and adjusting in the middle of the pandemic. I hope you enjoy listening to our conversation as much as I enjoyed having it. Show Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chocolateontheroad/ Show Notes: https://damecacao.com/interview-pashmina-lalchandani-bar-cocoa/

INTERVIEW: Pashmina Lalchandani, CEO of Bar & Cocoa

Fiji is the land of beach getaways, incredibly strong traditions, and a whole lot of agriculture. In fact, I'd say that despite doubling in size each year due to tourism, most Fijians don't interact at all with tourists, and continue on their lives in the largely rural nation. This is how Tomo came to learn about cacao in the first place, well over a decade ago, while living in the small town of SavuSavu. Over the next several years, Tomo & his family built that small interaction into one of the world's first value-added craft chocolate companies. His brands, Adi Chocolate & Fijiana Cacao, are now consumed by hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. So in this interview, Tomo & I dig into the founding of his companies, local printing presses, and the marriage between maker & farmer. I hope you enjoy listening to our conversation as much as I enjoyed having it. Show Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chocolateontheroad/ Show Notes: https://damecacao.com/interview-tomo-zukoshi-fijiana-cacao/ 

INTERVIEW: Tomo Zukoshi, Co-Founder of Fijiana Cacao

It’s a huge undertaking to write a book, but it’s a monumental project to write the book on your chosen subject. Yet that’s exactly what you’ll find in The Secret Life of Chocolate, a definitive book on cacao written by medical herbalist Marcos Patchett. The book’s many chapters read like individual deep dives into the many facets of cacao, as explored through the lens of its medicinal role in cultures through the ages. It’s been such a pleasure to have this book in my chocolate library, that I had to have a chat with Marcos on the podcast. We get into some of the most frequently asked questions about chocolate, from antioxidants and allergies to the history of cacao ceremonies. I hope you enjoy listening to our conversation as much as I enjoyed having it. Show Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chocolateontheroad/ Show Notes: https://damecacao.com/interview-marcos-patchett-secret-life-of-chocolate/

INTERVIEW: Marcos Patchett, Author of The Secret Life of Chocolate

Not only is India one of the world’s largest economies, but the country has a huge range of micro-climates, even within each of its 36 states & territories. Of these, four are the most hospitable for growing cacao, and Tamil Nadu is one of them. This is where you’ll find the farms of Regal Plantations and the tiny chocolate factory of Soklet Chocolate, both of which are operated by brothers-in-law Harish Manoj Kumar & Karthi Palaniswamy. Over the last five years, Karthi & Harish have built up a successful business processing & exporting fine flavor cacao, and making & selling craft chocolate. In this interview, Harish & Karthi and I dig into the development of the Indian cacao & craft chocolate scene, as well as sharing the flavors of India and how covid is affecting their community. I hope you enjoy listening to our conversation as much as I enjoyed having it. Note that the general topics of Indian cacao & chocolate were the focus of my interview with Harish & Karthi, with the end product being the podcast episode on Indian Chocolate & Cacao. Show Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chocolateontheroad/ Show Notes: https://damecacao.com/interview-soklet-chocolate/

INTERVIEW: Soklet Chocolate Co-Founders, Harish & Karthi

Since 1995, Zotter Chocolate has been creating confections in southeastern Austria. In 2006, the family-owned and -run company began dabbling in bean to bar chocolates, and since then, they’ve become one of the largest craft chocolate makers in the world. Julia Zotter was raised as a part of the company, and is now its director of creativity after spending several years building up their Shanghai location. A polyglot by nature, Julia speaks candidly about how her family’s company has been able to grow so much in such a short period of time, and still maintain its commitment to cacao farmers and organic sourcing. In this interview, Julia & I dig into the development of flavors over at Zotter, as well as some of the larger sociocultural pushes towards milk alternatives in chocolate. I hope you enjoy listening to our conversation as much as I enjoyed having it. Note that milk alternatives in chocolate making was the topic of my interview with Julia, with the end product being the podcast episode on The Rise of Milk Alternatives. Show Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chocolateontheroad/ Show Notes: https://damecacao.com/interview-julia-zotter-chocolate/

INTERVIEW: Julia Zotter, Creative Director at Zotter Chocolate

While the vast majority of travelers will associate Fiji only with resorts, pristine beaches, and tribal dances, some visitors will manage to glimpse another side of the islands. For over 100 years, Fijians have been growing cacao, sometimes sporadically, to be sold into the international market. But in recent years, the Pacific Island nation has seen a local chocolate industry appear and slowly develop, similar to what’s happened in Hawaii. Since 2005, the islands have had small-batch, direct-trade Fijian chocolate circulating to tourists and locals alike. To discover more about the mysterious tale of Fijian chocolate, I spoke with four people involved in various steps of the supply chain, from growing & harvesting cacao to making & selling chocolate. Today’s episode explores how the islands came to grow cacao, and what the vision is for its future. To read an article related to this episode, click here. Show notes: https://damecacao.com/chocolate-on-the-road-fiji/ Show Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chocolateontheroad/

Ep. 27: Fiji

While Covid-19 has ravaged populations around the world, it’s also nearly halted the global economy. Almost every industry around the world is heavily affected, most often in the negative, and craft chocolate is no exception. Not only are chocolate sales directly affected, but the supply chain has been interrupted, potentially for many years to come. So who are the supply chain players who’ve been most & least affected? How might this shift over the next year or two? To find some answers to these queries, I spoke with four people involved in various steps of the supply chain, from growing & harvesting cacao to making & selling chocolate. Today’s episode explores the ways in which Coronavirus has changed the landscape of fine chocolate as we knew it just a few months before, and what you as a consumer can do to help. To read an article related to this episode, click here. Show notes: https://damecacao.com/chocolate-on-the-road-coronavirus-killing-craft/ Show Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chocolateontheroad/

Ep. 26: Is Coronavirus Killing Craft Chocolate?

A show exploring hot topics & destinations for chocolate, weaving together history, culture, and lived experiences to make a storytelling podcast that’s part interview & part documentary!

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Chocolate On The Road

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