FAQ
ALLERGIES, NUTRITION & DIETARY RESTRICTIONS
Is there gluten present in our Chocolates?
Many of our chocolates are gluten-free. Gluten is present in some of our chocolates.
For consumers who are sensitive to gluten, please always refer to the ingredient list on the product’s packaging for definitive advice. Even the chocolates that do not contain any gluten may have traces from cross-contact and are not suitable for consumers highly sensitive to gluten.
We are sensitive to the fact that there are consumers who are unable to enjoy all of our chocolate at this time, and we hope that in the future we will be able to extend more product offerings to accommodate our consumers with varying dietary requirements.
Are our products nut allergen safe?
Unfortunately, our products are not safe for people with nut allergies. Many of our chocolates and other products contain various nuts. We are aware of the growing prevalence of restricted diets due to nut allergies, and we are sensitive to the fact that these consumers may not be able to enjoy our chocolate at this time.
Which products are suitable for people who are lactose intolerant?
Many of our products are vegan & are clearly marked. But we use dairy in many of our chocolates and products. Our manufacturing facilities process milk, dark, and white chocolate products.
We have an allergen control program in place and adhere to strict Good Manufacturing Practices in order to reduce the risk of cross-contamination, but there may still maybe traces of cross-contact. For those reasons, as a precaution for those who are most sensitive to milk and milk ingredients, we do not have products suitable for people with severe lactose intolerance.
Do we use eggs in our chocolates?
No. We do not use eggs in any of our chocolates.
Do we sell sugar-free chocolates?
Yes, we have a large selection of sugar-free chocolates for diabetics, people with dietary restrictions like keto, vegan and Weight Watchers.
Our rich dark vegan chocolates, 70% and intense pure dark vegan chocolates, 85%, have a reduced sugar content.
Are our Chocolates suitable for vegans?
None of our chocolates contain eggs, and our chocolates 55% and above are vegan. Please always refer to the packaging for a definitive ingredient listing.
Are our Chocolates suitable for vegetarians?
We are pleased to inform you that all our chocolates are suitable for vegetarians.
The only ingredients of animal origin we use to manufacture all our chocolates are milk, milk products and cream.
OTHER INGREDIENTS IN OUR PRODUCTS
Are there flavanols in our chocolates?
Flavonoids are naturally occurring compounds found in plants. There are flavanols in our chocolate. We do not publish nutritional information on the flavanol levels in our chocolate because it is not added; it is naturally found in cocoa.
How much caffeine is in our chocolate?
Caffeine is a natural compound derived from plant sources like the kola nut and naturally found in substances like coffee and tea. There is very little caffeine in chocolate in comparison.
Generally, 30g of dark chocolate contains about 20mg of caffeine, 30g of milk chocolate contains 6mg of caffeine, and 30g of white chocolate contains less than 2mg of caffeine.
Do our chocolates contain alcohol?
Only two of our chocolate flavours contain alcohol or alcoholic liqueurs as an ingredient. If alcohol is used as an added ingredient, it will be listed in the product's ingredient list.
Is there trans fat or hydrogenated vegetable oil in our chocolates?
For the production of our chocolates, we only use pure cocoa butter. We do not use any vegetable oil in any of our products. Milk cream is used in milk chocolate recipes.
Do you use palm oil, and is it sourced sustainably?
We do not use palm oil in any of our products.
We understand the impact that uncontrolled cultivation of palm oil can have on rainforests and biodiversity. Despite constant monitoring & certification of palm oil, it's impossible to know 100% if the palm oil we have sourced is ethical or not.
Despite the massive price difference between cocoa butter & palm oil, we have made a conscious decision to use only pure cocoa butter instead of palm oil. We owe this to Mother Earth.
MISCELLANEOUS PRODUCT QUESTIONS
What does 70% chocolate or any other percentage of chocolate mean?
The percentage quantifies the amount of cocoa solids contained in the chocolate. This includes cocoa liquor, cocoa butter and cocoa powder. For example:
70% rich dark chocolate bar contains 70% cocoa solids
85% intense pure dark chocolate contains 85% cocoa solids.
What is the cocoa content of our chocolates?
We offer chocolates from 35% to 80% cocoa content.
CARING FOR CHOCOLATE
What are the whitish streaks that sometimes appear on chocolate? What is sugar/fat bloom? Is it safe to consume chocolate with white patches? Does heat affect chocolate?
Bloom is a greyish coating on the surface of chocolates and is more visible on dark chocolate. There are two kinds of bloom: fat bloom, caused by fat migration and sugar bloom, caused by humidity. Both these types of blooms happen during temperature changes.
Chocolates should ideally be stored at around 14° to 20°C, and the relative humidity should not exceed 65%. Once the product leaves our facility, we have no control over temperature or humidity.
Pure chocolate is very sensitive to changes in temperature.
Though visually undesirable, the chocolates are perfectly safe to enjoy
What is the shelf life of our chocolates?
Please refer to the “Best Before” date printed on the packaging. It assures that the quality of a product consumed at the end of the shelf life still lives up to high-quality expectations when stored under the right conditions.
Some of our products are to be consumed within 24 hours, and some have a shelf life of 12 months.