Sweet Thursday objective: To highlight an organization or person that strives to improve the world around them and make the world a little but more sweet.
I found a double sweet this week that I am pretty excited about. I found a company that makes chocolate and rocks at giving back to their community and beyond their community borders including areas of Africa and South America. How awesome is that? I have yet to taste their chocolate, but I will for sure be ordering some soon. His chocolate has been named ‘best’ by Bon Appetit Magazine. They have won 2 gold awards at the London Academy of Chocolate last year and more beyond that. What impressed me most was the story behind the chocolates, because it closely mirrors what I would like to eventually do with this site here.
Askinosie Chocolate was started in 2005 by Shawn Askinosie. He was currently practicing law in Missouri but felt that it was draining and he needed to find something else. He found chocolate. One thing I love about fine chocolate makers is that they really take the time to connect with their farmers and establish a relationship with them. Shawn states that he does this and tries to being that relationship back and make it part of the chocolate product. He goes beyond this relationship by returning aid back to his growers in the form of education and other needs. Shawn also has created Chocolate University to give back to his immediate community. Here he strives to provide a business introduction to students and encourage them to recognize the world beyond their hometown.
As I said, I have not tasted his chocolate yet, but I am sure it is as sweet as his story and I hope to be enjoying some soon. Finding out details about a company like this just make me want to support them even more. I love amazing people!
Happy Sweet Thursday!
They are a super fab company. They are also a small company of passionate people and I’d love to see their chocolate available far and wide. The chocolate beans are treated sympathetically so that they retain some of their delightful flavours and that comes through in the robust scent and taste of the bars they create. I hope you get to try them soon!