Taza Chocolate facts for kids
A shelf full of Taza Chocolates
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| Private | |
| Industry | Food and Confectionery Manufacturers |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Founders | Alex Whitmore, Kathleen Fulton, and Larry Slotnick |
| Headquarters | Somerville, Massachusetts, US |
| Products | Stone Ground Origin Bars, Amaze Bars, Chocolate Mexicano Discs, Chocolate Covered Treats, Tazitos Minibars, Baking Products |
Taza Chocolate is a company that makes organic, stone-ground chocolate. Their chocolate is inspired by traditional Mexican methods. The company is located in Somerville, Massachusetts, in the United States. Alex Whitmore started Taza Chocolate in 2005. Today, Taza Chocolate makes over 40 different products. You can find their delicious chocolates in about 2,800 stores across the country.
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How Taza Chocolate Started
Alex Whitmore founded Taza Chocolate in 2005. He got the idea after a trip to Oaxaca, Mexico. In Oaxaca, he discovered how chocolate was traditionally made using stone mills. This special way of making chocolate inspired him.
In 2006, Alex built a factory in Somerville, Massachusetts. He brought in a mix of old and new machines. Some stone mills came all the way from Oaxaca. He also got an Italian machine called a winnower from the Dominican Republic. This machine helps separate cacao beans from their shells. A special roaster from Italy also joined the factory.
At first, Taza bought cacao beans from brokers. But Alex wanted to work directly with the farmers. So, he traveled through Central and South America and the Caribbean. He searched for farmers who could sell their cacao beans straight to Taza. Alex and his wife, Kathleen Fulton, who is also a co-founder, made sure to build strong relationships with these farmers. They call this a Direct Trade relationship.
Today, Taza Chocolate is sold all over the United States. You can also find their products in some other countries around the world.
Fair Trade for Farmers
Taza Chocolate uses cacao that is Certified USDA organic. This means it's grown without harmful chemicals. The cacao is also non-GMO, which means it's not genetically modified.
The company has special Direct Trade relationships with small organic cacao farmers. This means Taza Chocolate buys cacao beans directly from the farmers. There are no middlemen or extra companies in between. This helps the farmers get a better price for their hard work. Taza Chocolate actually pays them more than the usual Fair Trade minimum price for cacao. This way, the farmers can earn more money and improve their lives.
Delicious Chocolate Products
Taza Chocolate makes many different kinds of chocolate. They sell both chocolate bars and special discs.
Amaze Bars
These are stone-ground chocolate bars mixed with other yummy flavors.
- Wicked Dark
- Cacao Crunch
- Coconut
- Coconut Almond
- Espresso Buzz
- Maple Pecan
- Deliciously Dark
- Raspberry Crunch
- Sea Salt Almond
- Toffee, Almond & Sea Salt
- Seriously Dark
- Wicked Dark w/ Coconut
- Wicked Dark w/ Ginger
- Wicked Dark w/ Toasted Quinoa
Chocolate Covered Treats
These treats are almonds, cashews, and hazelnuts. They are covered in Taza's stone-ground dark chocolate.
Chocolate Mexicano Discs
These are rustic, organic dark chocolate discs. They are made in the traditional Mexican style.
- Cacao Puro
- 85% Super Dark
- Chipotle Chili
- Cinnamon
- Coffee
- Guajillo Chili
- Salted Almond
- Vanilla
Origin Bars
These are minimally processed stone-ground chocolate bars. They highlight the natural flavors of cacao from different regions.
- 70% Dark Dominican Republic
- 80% Dark Dominican Republic
- 87% Dark Bolivia
See also
