Easter eggs is tricky business in this household. It’s not something I grew up with a great deal. My grandparents would always buy us a modest sized egg to eat as fast or slow as we wanted and that was kind of it. No easter egg hunts, no mysterious rabbits leaving Easter themed gifts and household bombardment of chocolate. It was all kept rather simple.
As an adult I get that, I totally get that. But as a child I wanted to be ill on chocolate easter eggs, I wanted to swim in it like every other child seemed to be doing but me.
So as an adult and now parent myself I come to this tricky line. While Easter doesn’t hold a strong gift giving significance to me, I do like giving a little chocolate something as I remember the joy I had of eating the same. I like adding a hunt for it, as hey, it’s exciting- who doesn’t like a good hunt? But, and it’s rather a big BUT…
I don’t want to buy those chocolate eggs that have been on the supermarket shelf since just after Christmas.
I don’t want to buy those eggs that have food miles to the moon and back.
I don’t want to buy compound chocolate that has palm oil in it’s ingredients.
I don’t want to buy that chocolate that has a multitude of layers of packaging.
And I sure as chocolate eggs don’t want to buy that chocolate that sources it’s cocoa from child slavery conditions.
To give my children a small inexpensive chocolate treat at the expense of all that? No, no I wont. I simply will not buy into that.
I make this decision by thinking about where my dollar goes. I am happy to pay more for an ethically made chocolate that is produced as locally as I can source. Not because I want to buy something more expensive but because I value all those things above and think chocolate should never be cheap. I will pay more for a chocolate that I know won’t have palm oil in it. And I will plan ahead, take the time to find out where I can buy them, avoiding last minute unconsidered purchases. I think chocolate is a luxury and a pretty amazing one at that.
So this Easter, I want to treat that small gifted chocolate with a little respect and hopefully pass that on, even just a little to my kids. Showing that every last delicious sweet crumb that I buy is to be valued, (whether they eat it quickly or slowly it doesn’t matter). I don’t see buying fairtrade chocolate as an expensive inconvenience, it’s a carefully considered treat…and that’s the way I think it should be.
Where to buy some Fairtrade Easter Chocolate
World Vision Fair Trade Chocolate Guide (Australian based- but many of these brands are available internationally, so would still be relevant.)
Tribes and Nations– stockists of Fairtrade easter eggs.
Spencer Cocoa– Single plantation chocolate, grown in Vanuatu and made in Mudgee.
Chocolatier– does Fairtrade options for Easter.
cityhippyfarmgirl 
Brydie, good on you! I buy it in 10kg sacks for tempering, you can get Chefs’ Warehouse to order it in for you! 🙂 xx
LikeLike
Celia I wish I could, but….tempering and I? Just don’t seem to be friends. One day maybe, actually I would like to think one day definitely. Maybe when I’ve got more bench space and and less things to distract me 🙂
LikeLike
How eloquently put! Wonderful post. Ive been trying for weeks to get my chocolate post done and yours just says it all. Thanks for these links too, i was getting a little desperate with finding alternatives. May you and the kids have fun planning, preparing and anticipating the event.
LikeLike
Tamara you do have to go digging a bit more to get the Fairtrade stuff in Easter egg type form, BUT if all else fails I say a block of Fairtrade chocolate will be just as good.
LikeLike
I only eat/purchase fair Trade Chocolate.
There are many Good Reasons to Do So! Right On, Girl!!
LikeLike
Thank you Alaska Kat Knits. There are oodles of reasons aren’t there.
LikeLike
Fair trade chocolate and coffee have become important to me as I’ve learned the conditions of the “cheaper” chocs- but my little ones get their eggs from their parents and I add only on the side to whatever their parents will allow. I think I may make some chocolate molds for them this year.
Thanks so much for educating those of us who may not be as aware or on top of these issues.
LikeLike
Heidi the are always so many different things to read and take in aren’t there.
I think no matter what you decide to do for your lovely grandkids they will love you for it.
LikeLike
I’m applauding Brydie, this is important to me too.
LikeLike
Thanks Rose, it is so important. The supermarkets are swamped with crap chocolate at the moment and it all comes at such a cost albeit not an initial money one.
LikeLike
Thanks!! I never think about chocolate and fair trade… I don´t know why??!!!
Here in Argentina, just find things from FAIR TRADE is very difficult and expensive, but every time I have the opportunity I buy them.
Thanks for educating me on this area.
LikeLike
Ale it can be really expensive in comparison but maybe the other chocolates just really shouldn’t be sold at the cheap prices that they are. So many ingredients in one small package and then sold for a really small amount…pretty sure it’s not supposed to be like that.
Hope you can find some fairtrade products in your area this year, and hey if you can’t? Ask for it. People will sell what others are asking for. Create that demand.
LikeLike
We eat a lot of chocolate in this house, but we don’t do Easter. That said, I have very fond memories of finding a Red Tulip, Elegant Rabbit at the end of my bed on Easter Sunday morning. Buying fair trade chocolate isn’t something I find myself striving to do, so now I feel a little guilty… perhaps this year I’ll make the effort for my little girls first Easter. (and then thoroughly enjoy eating it myself!)
LikeLike
Thank you for putting this out there Brydie. It is very important to me too. xxoo
LikeLike
Wonderful post Brydie. I share your thoughts. I definitely think that more people need to ‘thoughtfully’ purchase Easter chocolate rather than falling into the unavoidable hype at supermarkets and department stores. The disposable, cheap and exploitative nature of our society makes me very sad. I’ve often reused Easter chocolate foil and packaging to make other things in an effort to reduce wastage! xx
LikeLike
wonderful post! yes i dont understand the multitude of packaging and the easter eggs appearing right after christmas. seriously?
LikeLike
When my son was young I made him great big rocky road bunnies with a cheap mould ( I think I still have it somewhere ) This was many years ago, before we had heard of fair-trade chocolate, I hope I was doing the right thing. He chipped away at his bunnies for days.
LikeLike
Debra and I bet he loved that rocky road bunny to bits, what little kid wouldn’t!
LikeLike
Thanks so much for this post Brydie. I too like the excitement associated with Easter – I grew up with Easter egg hunts and was appalled to discover my husband didn’t, to the point I now do one just for us to – but don’t at all like the mass produced sugar filled faux chocolate eggs. I am pleased that Fairtrade (and vegan in my case) are getting gradually easier, but it’s hard and definitely pricey. Worth it though! This is a great resource xo
LikeLike
It should be a better resource unfortunately. I think I’ll add to it whenever I come across another company. If people don’t know there are alternatives it’s a bit hard to change.
LikeLike
Excellent. I am also making sure I’m buying Easter eggs that match my ideals. I’ll probably end up making my own! xx
LikeLike
You need to get a sack like Celia CL 🙂
LikeLike
Hi Brydie
The Haigh family chocolate makers in Adelaide source their ingredients from fair-traders. I believe they have an outlet in Sydney…not sure if they manufacture in Sydney, though. Haigh’s have been making Easter bilbies rather than rabbits for many years now; it’s nice to have an Aussie touch.
LikeLike
Thanks for that Julie, I had forgotten about Haigh’s and you are right, they are definitely in Sydney. Will add them to my list…
(and bilbies are a far better option than an old rabbit :-))
LikeLike
I like Celias idea of a 10kg sack! A 10kg sack of chocolate? Don’t think it would make it to tempering ;). Kudos for this post. So may people just grab something from the supermarket shelf at the last minute without even thinking about it. I guess that unique “easter chocolate taste” is from all of the palm oil and long suffering orangutans and poor little underpaid overworked kids that went into each discount, knock off, “50% off” the day after moment of what is a completely forgotten religeous ceremony buried underneath a cacophony of bad chocolate. Kudos for your consideration ma’am 🙂
LikeLike
Yep. To all of that unfortunately.
The problem with the supermarkets is you’re ground down with it. They’re on every aisle, trying to lure you in.
LikeLike
Thanks for this Brydie, great links and information. I always feel uneasy about Easter in the sense that I don’t want to overload the kids with cheap chocolate or commercial ‘stuff’ but I want to celebrate in a simple, low key way. I have lovely memories of Easter from my own childhood. I am going to follow up some of your links…I have actually been waiting for the weather to cool down so I could safely order some chocolate from Spencer Cocoa, now might be a good time 🙂
LikeLike
Me too Jane. It’s still not cool enough here but they are definitely on my hit list. I’ll be interested to see how you like the chocolate.
LikeLike
Beautifully put, I am a big fan of buying less, but buying ethically and better quality. I’ll be looking for something nice for my little people this year too.
LikeLike
You have given me much to think about. I have picked up cheap chocolatey things for the children at the supermarket and swiftly put them back this Easter because it feels like I am selling out to commericialism and to eating local. You have prompted me to look at other options – sometimes it really helps if you have the ‘other options’ to help you make the change ,so I appreciate the chocolatey list at the end.
And the fact is …when chocolate is REALLY good quality, you actually don’t need that much to get your chocolate fix.
LikeLike
Hi Brydie. Just checking in to let you know that I purchased and have received a beautiful package of chocolate from Spencer Cocoa. Both the milk and dark chocolate is delicious and not at all sweet and but not overly bitter either. It feels good to support this small, Australian business. Happy Sunday to you. x
LikeLike
Awesome to hear that Jane. Will be on it. (Thank you!)
LikeLike