RETURN FROM A JOURNEY
For a chocolatier, there is nothing quite so extraordinary as visiting cocoa-producing countries, exploring plantations, immersing oneself in the heart of the cocoa trees, marveling at the pods, and savoring fresh beans that taste as sweet as tangy candies, all while selecting the cocoa to create their own recipes.
Eager to enrich our craft by working with cocoa beans from the very beginning, we have prioritized and developed direct-trade relationships over the past few years. To do this, we visit plantations to select and work closely with those that meet our standards. And there is no better way to choose the producers from whom we will later source the famous beans than to meet them in person.
After São Tomé, Madagascar, Peru, and Ecuador, it was to Southern India that our team of cocoa enthusiasts traveled this year.
WHY GO TO INDIA?
This selection process begins with planning our trips: choosing the country, the regions, and the plantations. Southern India, between Kerala and Tamil Nadu, inspired us. Cocoa is still relatively rare there, and the lush vegetation and spices grown in the region held great promise: vanilla, tea, coffee, cardamom, nutmeg... This piqued our curiosity, especially since we do not yet offer this origin in our collection of chocolate bars.
OUR JOURNEY and OUR DISCOVERIES
Our journey began in Thrissur, in the south of the country, before taking us on a loop that allowed us to discover cocoa in Tamil Nadu and then in Kerala, in the Idduki region.
At this time of year, the harvest is ending, just before the monsoon. The heat and humidity are overwhelming. We visited the cocoa research center and discovered several plantations and different methods of growing and post-harvesting the beans.
From afar, everything may seem appealing, promising, and serious, but it is only when we are there in person that we can truly determine whether the producer's project fully meets our requirements:
1 – respect for biodiversity and the practice of agroforestry:
the choice of cultivated cocoa tree varieties, the diversity of trees and crops on the plantation, the care of the estate and its trees, the management of natural resources... all of which secure the future of nature and promote the exceptional development of the cocoa beans' flavors.
2 – the care taken at all key stages on-site is essential:
harvesting ripe pods, mastering natural fermentation and drying, and inspecting and sorting the beans one last time before leaving the farm
3 – shared human and social values, respect for the International Labour Organization:
there is no way to celebrate the sweet heritage of this land without taking into account the production conditions there.
These are the values and commitments we promote through our chocolates; a multitude of recipes, all developed by us, in our own workshop, exclusively for our boutiques, for you who have placed your trust in us for many years.
SELECTING THE INDIAN COCOA THAT SUITS US
We fell in love with some beans!
Floral, banana, and herbal notes, and even a taste of chocolate... This array of aromas is closely linked to the lushness of the plantation, our favorite of all our visits, where many varieties of trees and flowers coexist and great care is taken at every stage before and after the harvest.
While we can form a good initial impression of the characteristics of the beans we discover and their aromatic potential at the end of drying, it is only at the factory, after roasting and processing them into chocolate couverture, that we will know for sure.
FROM SELECTING THE BEANS TO CRAFTING THE CHOCOLATE:
the very essence of our work as chocolatiers
As you can see, we develop our chocolate recipes with passion using cocoa from different origins, and soon from India!
A hallmark of our House, mastering the raw materials all the way to the final confection is a key asset.
Free to make our own choices, what immense satisfaction it brings to select the farms and transform into chocolate in our Touraine workshop the beans we chose during each field visit.
Behind each of our chocolates lie not only the stories of our journeys and our encounters... but also the many trials conducted at the factory to bring out the very best aromas of the beans we love.
