What are you getting when you buy chocolate in Australia?
Charley’s was set up with an aim of being involved in the development of the Australian cocoa and chocolate industry. Charley’s is a tree to bar producer. This blog post covers the differing pathways that chocolate follows to get to you, the consumer.
The chocolate producer’s hierarchy is:
- Tree to bar
- Bean to bar - artisans and majors
- Imported chocolate mass converted to chocolate products
- Imported finished chocolate product
Tree to bar. Think paddock to plate.
Charley’s is a tree to bar producer with it all happening at Mission Beach in far north Queensland. Tree to bar is where the cocoa is grown and the chocolate is made in the country of origin. Charley’s is one of the few who do it this way but with the added feature that an estate chocolate (Mt Edna) is grown and produced on site. Learn about Charley’s tree to bar at Tree to bar.
Bean to bar artisan producers
Artisan or craft chocolate producers import raw cocoa beans which are then processed into manufactured chocolate products. A good website on this mode is Bean Bar You.
Bean to bar majors
Cadbury (now owned by Mondelez) take this approach. Cadbury source their cocoa beans from West Africa via the Cocoa Life initiative of Mondelez. Cocoa Life is an initiative to transform their cocoa supply chain. See An update on child slavery to see how they are doing.
Import chocolate mass and make end products
Here the chocolatier purchases the chocolate mass / couverture, often from Barry Callebaut. The mass is then melted, tempered and moulded into chocolates or bars.
Often, these producers claim their product is Belgian chocolate. Most likely it is West African beans via Belgium. Barry Callebaut seems to be trying harder to improve the conditions for West African farmers than other majors.
Import finished chocolate
You will often see Belgian Chocolate at the supermarket or shop. West Africa is the source of the majority of cocoa grown in the world so likely this chocolate started as West African beans. It usually says so, if not. Some examples from Woolies;
- Guylian Chocolate Selection Belgian Excellence
- Woolworths Belgian Milk Chocolate Block
Other references
Cocoa seed to chocolate bar journey is at https://www.charleys.com.au/our-sustainability/
Thumbnail image credit: Zakariya AF / Shutterstock.com