Solkiki
– Taking ethical chocolate seriously.
From their 100% renewably powered chocolate workshop, to
their emphasis on trading ethically via direct trade schemes with cocoa growers
(which lets the farmers set their own cocoa prices and goes way beyond Fair
Trade), it’s clear that Solkiki are obsessive about producing high quality
chocolate, that’s also ethically produced too.
For the chocolate connoisseur, this means a chocolate bar
that has been hand-processed by Solkiki at every step, using the most intricate
of techniques, to provide a chocolate experience in which one really can taste
the difference. Solkiki are one of only a few bean-to-bar chocolate makers in
Europe today.
Solkiki began in 2008, when its creators, unable to find any
chocolate that was suitable for their vegan, dairy free diet, expanded beyond
their “life-long love affair” with chocolate and began experimenting by making
their very own chocolate bars. Favourable customer reviews from the first
fine-flavoured, artisan dark chocolate bars produced, encouraged Solkiki to increase
their range and indulge their passion for milk and white chocolate bars as
well.
Today, Solkiki’s chocolate is still hand produced in micro-batches
which, claim the Dorset based bean-to-bar chocolate makers, allows them to stay
true to their aim of “making exceptional chocolate for everyone”.
This includes making their range of white, high cocoa
content milk and dark chocolate bars suitable for vegans and vegetarians alike,
but it doesn’t stop there. Every bar is also organic, fair-trade and free from
alcohol and dairy, with most bars also free of Soya Lecithin.
For example, their Solkiki Maranon 60% dairy free, salted
milk chocolate bar, gets its creamy texture and taste from the use of organic
coconut in place of normal dairy. It’s a beautifully sweet and floral milk
chocolate bar from Solkiki. Created from rare, Pure Nacional cocoa beans (cocoa
that was thought to be extinct for nearly a century and only re-discovered in
2011, growing at twice their usual altitude) from the remote Maranon river
canyon of Peru. As one can imagine, these cocoa beans are highly prized and sought
after.
Another popular Solkiki dark chocolate bar is their Toledo
71% dark chocolate bar. Made from single estate Trinitario and Criollo cocoa
beans, it contains mouth-watering flavours; an edge of citrus and green grapes
balanced with a light chocolate flavour with a vanilla and liquorice edge. A
truly outstanding chocolate bar with good depth of flavour and long melt.
Solkiki’s Hazelnut Cream, dairy free, white chocolate bar is
also both organic and fair-trade. Made from cold-pressed cocoa butter, white
chocolate is combined with hazelnuts to create a light and creamy gianduja
(hazelnut paste) recipe chocolate bar.
Solkiki chocolate may not be as perfectly smooth as you may have
experienced with many larger chocolate makers, but theirs is truly artisan
bean-to-bar chocolate, hand-made in micro batches, which produces flavour
profiles that are truly unique.
Chocolate Trading Co has 7 different chocolate bars from the
Solkiki range in stock, all available to buy online from our award winning
website.
Solkiki’s single origin and single estate bars make a great
chocolate gift, especially for those whom other chocolate bars do not cater for
the dietary needs of Vegans or those on restricted diets.
But you don’t need to be on a restrictive diet
to enjoy the fruits of Solkiki’s life-long love affair with chocolate. Try some
today and taste the difference for yourself.
