It seems we are heading into the chocolatey part of the year. The time of year when if you peruse supermarket aisles you might see a sea of mass produced, overly packaged chocolate all at really accessable prices.
Now how do these chocolates manage to stay at these comfortable prices? Well, there is a good chance it will be made of compound chocolate- which means it could well have palm oil in it. Food miles are a given. And the work in order to harvest the cocoa? Well it wouldn’t be surprising if it was done under child labour conditions.
So how do we not buy into that whole rather dirty circle? Well, simply put, don’t. Vote with your dollar. Buy fair trade and consider what you’re buying before you do so. What you are really buying into?
Fair trade chocolate. Still just as important as last year.
**************
Spencer Cocoa– Single plantation chocolate, grown in Vanuatu and made in Mudgee. (pictured above, this chocolate is divine!)
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 Fair trade easter eggs.
Chocolatier– does Fair trade options for Easter.
cityhippyfarmgirl 
Such an important post Brydie, thank you for reminding us.
LikeLike
Ditto. Yum, yum! xo
LikeLike
Choosing quality over quantity is so important and overlooked by many at easter. Loading kids up with mountains of cheap, sugary chocolate has hidden costs like the ones you describe Brydie, is bad for their precious little bodies and teaches them what…that a celebration means overindulgence in lots of crappy food? So much better to be mindful about the food choices we make, enjoying better quality, better conscience food in smaller amounts and truly savouring what we have 🙂
LikeLike
Sam that’s something I keep coming back to at the moment. To celebrate for most people is to celebrate with sugar, we need to rejig that big time. A wheel of brie and crackers brought in for a child’s birthday at school rather than the obligatory cake or lollies?? 🙂
But yes, a big yes to the quality over quantity.
LikeLike
Thanks Brydie. I really enjoyed the Spencer Chocolate that we bought. Although it isn’t cheap, it is quality over quantity 🙂
LikeLike
Not cheap but the taste is….mmmm. So many different flavours in there rather than a generic chocolatey taste.
LikeLike
An upvote for Spencer chocolate from me as well. Some of the best tasting chocolate I’ve eaten!!
LikeLike
Hooray to that Bec!
LikeLike
I would also add that it generally is much better chocolate too – I bought some from Spencer Cocoa too this week as well as some locally made bunnies for the kids from Lindsay and Edmunds (http://www.lindsayandedmunds.com.au). They’re a great Canberra company making organic free-trade chocolates – and for you Sydneysiders they’re about to open a Sydney factory outlet in August 🙂
LikeLike
Beck thanks for the heads up on this company. I hadn’t heard of them before and definitely worth looking into! Hope the kiddo’s love the bunnies.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Totally agree!
LikeLike
Thanks for the timely post. Living simply in the city can sometimes be quite a challenge – but with options like these, the choice is there for us to make. Quality chocolate is important in life, as is the comfort of knowing that our little treats are not causing harm to earth or child. Thanks for sharing info and link to these brands. May Easter bring you all happy moments, time for reflection and peace.
LikeLike
I’m very selective about the chocolate I buy and I do try to avoid palm oil in everything I buy. And child labour. And halal certification fees. And food miles. And big brands. It’s an effort! Happy Easter Brydie to you and your family xx
LikeLike
I can’t wait for the day when it becomes more available and obvious in the supermarkets because that’s where a lot of parents buy the chocolate from, last minute and not thinking about the behind story. Happy Easter Autumn xx
LikeLike