Chocolate, Anyone?

At the market yesterday, Kidzilla picked out a whole bunch of great things.  Among other standards, she selected a golden plumcot and a mango nectarine.  Can’t wait to try these.  She also picked out some amazing chocolate. My kid loves dark chocolate – really dark chocolate.  This Little Foodie has remarkably mature taste for a four year-old. (Even if she does enjoy a little mac & cheese on the side.)

Turns out she may have socially responsible taste as well.

This is our favorite chocolate – Madécasse chocolate.  It is simply delicious.  These are the two bars from yesterday’s shopping excursion: Sea Salt & Nibs and Pink Pepper & Citrus.

We stumbled on Madécasse quite by accident a few months ago.  I wanted some good dark chocolate.  Kidzilla decided she wanted some, too.  She was convinced she would like it.  I was skeptical – this stuff is 63% cocoa.  But whatever – I am not one to tell my Kid she cannot try or like something.  I encourage her to try foods for herself, and then decide.

Standing at the chocolate display that day, we waited as two pre-teen girls selected their chocolate and discussed which ones they had tried and liked.  They were particularly pleased with something bearing pink on the wrapper that they enjoyed at a visit to a zoo somewhere.

Kidzilla heard the word “pink” and was all over it.  It turned out to be Madécasse’s Pink Pepper and Citrus bar.  I’ve had red pepper in chocolate before (it’s fabulous), but my pre-schooler?  Now I was really uncertain.  I explained to her what she was getting herself into.  She was game and we gave it a shot.

She LOVED it.

In the days and weeks to follow, we talked about responsible consumption of said chocolate – as in “no you may not eat the entire bar in one sitting.”  My Little Gourmet now eats but one small square of this stuff on the occasions when we have it and she is satisfied with that.  (Score for Mom!)  She doesn’t really want to hear about the health benefits of dark chocolate consmption, so we’ll save that one for another day.

So how is this even remotely related to social responsibility?  Well, take a cruise around the Internet and you’ll find lots of literature about the child labor problems involved with chcolate production (coffee, too) in the Ivory Coast region.  And there’s lots more out there about Fair Trade policies and organics and how they benefit the regions involved.  I’m not going to soapbox it here – you can do your own research if you choose. (There is great info at Eatocracy at CNN, Bittersweet Notes and Slave Free Chocolate if you want a start.)  But I was pleased to know that the gentlemen who started this company have noble intentions for avoiding all those negatives mentioned above.  It’s just a really small thing that could reap big benefits.

And did I mention that this stuff is divine?  Kidzilla jumps up and down when we unwrap it.  That’s a five-star rating around here.

Do you have a favorite chocolate?  Add your vote in the comments section and we can swap ideas!

Happy weekend!