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Award winning organic, bean to bar, and speciality craft chocolate from Edinburgh, Scotland

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FAQ

Here are some answers to the most popular questions we have been asked…

Is our chocolate fair trade?

Yes! But no!! We do not carry fair-trade certification. The way we see it fair-trade is an acceptable low bar to set for mass produced chocolate. Our organic 100g bars are made from agro-forestry grown cacao coming from cooperatives in Peru that are both organic and fair-trade certified, prices paid are at minimum fair-trade premiums. We visit the cooperatives annually and are certain that the organisations in Peru are committed to building communities and  are paying the extra fair-trade and organic premiums to the farmers regularly. Beyond paying premiums, when crises such as floods or COV-19 impact the farming communities, there is both practical and financial support from the co-ops to help farmers through.

When we buy speciality cacao from single origins for our bean to bar range, we are paying significantly higher than the fair-trade premiums. Typically speciality cacao is bought wet from the farmer, and after the wet to dry conversion has been done the farmers are receiving minimum $3.50 per kg. World market cocoa prices change dramatically and frequently depending on a number of factors. We are working to create a new model where farmers can be assured of a consistent and respectable price for their cacao, creating lasting equality throughout the supply chain.

In the beginning we decided on organic certification for Chocolate Tree, we looked into fair-trade certification back when we started in 2005 but basically we were operating out of a one bedroom flat on a shoestring and couldn’t afford the extra certification at the time. It’s a decision I am glad we made, as the fair-trade organisation particularly in cocoa has been under scrutiny for corruption and failure to get premiums to the farmers. There are several documentaries with evidence.

It has become clear to us over time that although fair-trade and organic certification schemes can add value to the supply chain, they can also become an obstacle. Our goal is to protect biodiversity and look after people, that won’t change. Just because a chocolate is not certified does not mean that it is either damaging to the environment or unethical,

Do we use Palm Oil?

No. We don’t use palm oil (sustainable or otherwise) in any of our products.

Does our packaging contain plastic?

All bars are made from a home compostable inner wrap and FSC certified outer card (Zero Plastic!). Almost all the packaging we make is create is free from plastic, but with a few exceptions such as the lids of our bonbon boxes, which are made from favourable PET-plastic  We are always on the lookout for new innovative packaging materials that are made responsibly and from sustainable natural resources. We will continue to do the right thing not because it’s popular, but because it’s the right thing to do. That’s why we didn’t get on the plastic free packaging train earlier on, as many of the materials being made were heavy weight and actually creating more emissions than plastic. Times have changed though, and the packaging industry is getting cleaner! Yay!

Is your chocolate gluten free?

Yes! We don’t use any gluten in any of our products, although we occasionally eat a sandwich at lunch so our products are not certified gluten free.

Is our chocolate suitable for vegetarians?

Yes! All our chocolate is suitable for vegetarians

Is our chocolate suitable for vegans?

Mostly!! We don’t use any weird hidden animal products. We do however use UK organic dairy in our milk and white chocolate and cream in our classic and caramel bonbons, we use a bit of honey too which we sometimes collect from our own beehives. But our dark chocolate is dairy free, and that’s most of our product line. If it doesn’t say it in the ingredients panel, then it’s not in there. As we do use dairy and various nuts in our factory, there will quite likely be traces, so if you have a severe lactose or nut allergy please take this risk into consideration.

Shelf Life

Most products, including all the chocolate bars and hot chocolates have 2 year shelf life from production, they don’t sit on our shelves for very long before they are on a retailers shelf. In some cases chocolate definitely improves with age (like a fine wine!) but not in the case of bonbons, which are best fresh. We don’t use any added preservatives, Friederike has maximised their natural shelf life by creating technical recipes that keep the ingredients pure and don’t compromise the quality.  The bonbons are being made fresh in our factory every week, they will typically arrive with 4 to 5 weeks until their best before date, caramels a couple weeks longer.

Where do we source our cacao?

Almost entirely South America, mainly Peru, but also Belize and Mexico. For more info check out our cacao sourcing page

Our shipping options

During checkout the option to have a paid delivery won’t disappear when you reach the threshold for free delivery! You can however select from various different options such as Isle of Man or the Highlands. We needed to put these options in because we have plenty of orders coming in from the Highlands and our courier charges us considerably higher for these. Please choose the appropriate shipping option for your address at checkout. There is no difference between the paid for courier service and the free one if you reach the threshold for UK mainland, select the free one.

What is the Shipping time?

We typically ship out the day after an order arrives and it will go an overnight (UK mainland only) service which operates Monday to Friday. We don’t do weekend deliveries. Overseas or highlands orders going with the post office may take a few extra days as we have to physically visit the post office with the parcels, this happens at least twice a week.

I can’t select my destination at checkout

That’s because we don’t ship to your destination, sorry. We found that some destinations were just too tricky or expensive to ship too. If it’s really important to get our chocolate to and you don’t have a local alternative, then write to us we’ll do our best for you.

I am in a different country from the shipping address and my PayPal / Card won’t work

Get in touch, we can issue you an invoice and take card payment from a link.

What’s your Refund / Replace policy?

If you are not happy with our products or service for any reason please let us know, we love the feedback and it helps us improve. Provided you have a good reason to request a refund or replacement we’ll get it sorted.

Do you offer subscriptions?

Not yet! We are working on it for 2021! Check back then…

Can I have free chocolate?

No. Well, maybe. Why do you want free chocolate? Are you going to do something really cool with it? We get quite a few requests from people asking to sample our chocolate before they order online. If you have a good cause drop us a line, we’ll consider it but nearly all of our donations are focused supporting environmental organisations via 1% for the planet.

I want to stock your chocolate in my shop

Great! Drop us a line on trade@choctree.co.uk and tell us more about your business.

I am here in (…..) where is my closest stockist?

Because we use distributors it’s hard to know exactly where all the stockists are! Our chocolate goes out all over the world. If it’s not in your local, then ask them to get in touch with us. If you write to us we’ll do our best to find out for you 🙂

Instagram

We have so far raised £2270 of our £10000 target We have so far raised £2270 of our £10000 target to invest for the future education of Luis Fernando, son of Luis Mancini of @cacaotales our dear friend who tragically lost his life to COV19 in Peru, leaving behind his young son and wife Lily. Please help by donating via the link in bio 💯❤

#cacaotales #followyourheart #tellyourstory #liveyourpassion
This week we tragically lost our good friend Luis This week we tragically lost our good friend Luis Mancini of @cacaotales to COV19 in Peru.

This wonderful man gave me access to so many travel expierences in latin America, we moved together through so many communities exploring cacao. He was a very loved and well known figure in the chocolate world.

Luis reached out to me when he was starting @cacaotales Having lived and studied in the UK he wanted to return to his Venezuelan roots and begin working with cocoa, ultimately as a farmer. Unable to continue his work in Venezuela he moved to Peru, and was in the middle of his success, having met his beautiful Peruvian wife Lily, and bringing his son Luis Fernando into the world. He was in the process of buying land in Piura.

This tragic loss has left us heartbroken and in shock. He was one of a kind, making a huge impression on everyone he met. We will miss you dearly Luis.

The photograph was taken in Amsterdam @chocoa.nl by @sampsasiekkinen of @goodiogoods 

#liveyourpassion #cacaotales
The Easter 2021 collection! LIMITED EDITION. Arti The Easter 2021 collection!

LIMITED EDITION. Artisan chocolates made from bean to bonbon.

We thought back to our roots this Easter, as a small business trading at music festivals; this collection of chocolates has been inspired by small is beautiful business. As an artisan producer we can produce something detailed and unique that big factories can’t. 

No eggs this year! Sorry for any disappointment… This time with COV-19 & Brexit has taught us that bigger is not always better, so we have kept it small, and beautiful. Chocolates designed and made by Friederike Gower.

Made from Venezuelan smallholder cacao, organic dairy, sugar, fruits, nuts and spices from around the world.

Mango & Coconut, Salted Caramel; Pear & Hazelnut, Lemon Curd, Raspberry, Chuao 70%, Bramble & Cardamom, Rhubarb & Custard, Hot Cross Bun

#choctree #easter2021 #beantobonbon #craftchocolate #trueartisan #sweet
While the world slept I made chocolate 🍫❤ #s While the world slept I made chocolate 🍫❤

#sundayvibes #earlymorning #craftchocolate #beantobar #choctree  #chocolatefactory #artisan #producerlife
Cacao de @cacaotales y @titojimenezrufino en Piura Cacao de @cacaotales y @titojimenezrufino en Piura.

These recent shots from Peru keep me hopeful. When i open the bags and smell, touch, feel the cacao it helps me remember this connection to the land and the people that brought it to us 🍫❤🙌🪅

#choctree #craftchocolate #beantobar #piura #cacaotales
Happy Valentines Day everyone ❤ We are in Love Happy Valentines Day everyone ❤ 

We are in Love with this new limited edition Venezuelan 70% dark chocolate. Made from the prestgious cacao of Chuao, with notes of dark cherries, plums and blackberries 🫐🍇🍒 

#choctree #craftchocolate #beantobar #chuao #venezuela #singleorigin
We Love EU 🇪🇺♥️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

This years Valentine's post for those of us going through a heartbreak 💔

#valentines2021 #brexitisntworking  #choctree #lovesurvives
On Monday 25th January we will celebrate pur natio On Monday 25th January we will celebrate pur national poet here in Scotland by consuming whisky and Haggis, reciting the verses of Robert Burns in our best Scots tongue... A welcome distraction from other global events. Order up some of our award winning (vegan) Haggis chocolate online today! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🍫🥃

Then if you are up for it join us in 'To a mouse' .. in this famous poem Rab empathises a mouse who's nest his plough has disturbed. He apologises to the mouse for humankinds domination of nature, implying that God intended humans to show compassion towards animals. 🐀❤

O, what a panic’s in thy breastie!
Thou need na start awa sae hasty,
Wi’ bickering brattle!
I wad be laith to rin an’ chase thee,
Wi’ murdering pattle!

I’m truly sorry Man’s dominion
Has broken Nature’s social union,
An’ justifies that ill opinion
Which makes thee startle
At me, thy poor, earth-born companion
An’ fellow-mortal!

I doubt na, whyles, but thou may thieve;
What then? poor beastie, thou maun live!
A daimen-icker in a thrave
‘S a sma’ requet;
I’ll get a blessin wi’ the lave,
An’ never miss’t!

Thy wee-bit housie, too, in ruin!
Its silly wa’s the win’s are strewin!
An’ naething, now, to big a new ane,
O’ foggage green!

An’ bleak December’s win’s ensuing,
Baith snell an’ keen!
Thou saw the fields laid bare an’ waste,
An’ weary Winter comin fast,
An’ cozie here, beneath the blast,
Thou thought to dwell,
Till crash! the cruel coulter past
Out thro’ thy cell.

That wee bit heap o’ leaves and stibble,
Has cost thee monie a weary nibble!
Now thou’s turned out, for a’ thy trouble,
But house or hald,
To thole the Winter’s sleety dribble,
An’ cranreuch cauld!

But Mousie, thou art no thy lane,
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best-laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men
Gang aft agley,
An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain,
For promis’d joy!

Still thou are blest, compared wi’ me!
The present only toucheth thee:
But Och! I backward cast my e’e,
On prospects drear!
An’ forward, tho’ I cannot see,
I guess an’ fear!

#choctree #burnsnight2021 #burnsnight #haggis #scotland #whiskylover
Merry Christmas 🎄❤💯 With gratitude to ev Merry Christmas 🎄❤💯 

With gratitude to everyone supporting and enjoying good chocolate this holiday, thank you 🙌

Looking through pics from these busy past few weeks and selected this one - just a nice morning with the sun coming through the factory windows catching the smoke from the freshly roasted cacao. Behind the orange & whisky centres getting ready to be enrobed in chocolate. The image captures a moment in artisanal chocolate neatly. It's been a real pleasure and we are so grateful to be able to do what we love in these challenging times. 💯🍫❤

#merrychristmas2020 #choctree #followyourdreams #craftchocolate  #beantobonbon
Nearly Christmas folks! We are shipping out last m Nearly Christmas folks! We are shipping out last minute UK mainland online orders until Tuesday, but let's also get out on to the high street safely and support the independant retailers out there. If local to Edinburgh you can buy our artisan chocolates from the @the_maytree (previously ChocTree)🍫💯❤🎅 

#christmasshopping #choctree #christmas2020 #independentretailer #cacaolove
Thanks to everyone ordering online for Christmas 🎅🎁😀 This weekend our little packing room has been a flurry of cardboard & tissue as we ship out chocolate across the globe. If you're order is taking a little longer than usual don't worry we are probably just finishing an item or two in the kitchen and we'll be shipping soon. Freshly produced chocolate is on the way 💯🍫❤

#choctree #christmas2020 #craftchocolate #beantobonbon
Happy Advent!! Starting with a 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 delight, The Cranachan! White choc, raspberries, pinhead Scottish oats & a wee drop of single malt whisky 🥃 

Counting the days until Christmas now... If you've ordered online and are waiting please stay patient we are making and packing chocolates at full steam to ensure everyone's order will make it in time. 🎅🌲☃️🎁 Please allow 7+ days for UK delivery!

#christmas2020 #choctree #busybee #advent #craftchocolate #staycalm
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Thank you for your wonderful chocolate, we’ve really enjoyed everything we’ve been purchasing from your on-line shop.

— Alana Lawson

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1% for the Planet

Chocolate Tree is a proud member of 1% for the Planet. We take responsibility for the health of our planet by donating 1% of our annual sales to environmental nonprofits creating positive change.

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