FAQ
What does "bean to bar" mean, and how long does the process take?
"Bean to bar" means that we produce our chocolate starting from cacao (i.e., cocoa beans) that we then roast, winnow, grind, refine, and temper into bars, bon bons, and other confections! This process takes about week from start to finish
Where do you make your chocolate?
We make all of our chocolate at our chocolaterie on South Broad St. in New Orleans! Unfortunately, we are not offering tours at this time, but you can learn all about our process at our café at 2032 Magazine St (11-6, Tues-Saturday) in the lovely Lower Garden District of New Orleans.
What kind of custom options do you offer?
We have a variety of different custom options including flavor, color, and logo printing! Give us a call with what you're imagining, and we would be happy to create a concept custom for you!
What does "tasting notes" mean, and how do I best taste those flavors?
The Tasting Notes are flavors naturally present in the actual chocolate, not an added flavoring. We suggest first taking a single bite of a piece of chocolate to release any distinct aromas, then let it slowly melt on your tongue. Can you detect any fruity, nutty, bitter, or floral tones? Read over our tasting notes, and see if you can detect any of these same tones. Still confused? Contact us to set up a tasting, or sign up for our mailing list to get updates on future tasting and pairing classes.
Are your products vegan?
Our single origin chocolate bars and drinking chocolate are all truly Vegan, as we use raw, Louisiana cane sugar to make them! Our bon bons and confections are typically not vegan, except for our amaaaaazing Vegan Collection, of course!
How should I store my chocolate?
Keeping chocolate and confections in an air-tight container at room temperature is fine for short term storage, while a wine fridge would be ideal for longer periods. Whenever putting chocolate(s) in any sort of refrigeration, they must be kept an air-tight container or bag to protect them from moisture, then sit out at room temperature for an hour or so to acclimate before removing from said moisture-barrier. For holding over a period of weeks, you may keep them in a normal refrigerator and then let them come to room temp before consuming. For even longer storage periods, you can even freeze your bonbons for up to 6 months! Just put them in the fridge for 24 hrs before moving them to the freezer, and then put them in the fridge for 24 hours to defrost.
Can I recycle my packaging?
Yes! Not only are our chocolate bars are all packaged with recycled paper, but they are wrapped in home-compostable cellophane. Bon bon boxes can be recycled without the tray inside.
Why is your chocolate so much more expensive than the chocolate found in supermarkets?
Our chocolate is more expensive for reasons similar to why a top tier bottle of wine is more expensive than Franzia. First of all, we purchase all of our cacao via Direct Trade (directly from farmers, cooperatives, or producers) or via what some call Conscious or Transparent Trade (from a distributor who buys Direct), meaning we pay 3 - 4 times the commodity price and so-called "fair trade" prices of cacao. This ensures that farmers are paid justly for their goods, which in turn ensures a consistently high-quality product. Furthermore, we use only the finest quality, local ingredients while never using any preservatives or artificial flavorings; our products are as fresh as they get!
Is your chocolate certified organic?
While all of our cacao is organically grown, most of it is not certified organic, as it comes from thousands of small holder farms that can not afford the certification costs. Generally, these farmers can not afford, nor do they have access to, inorganic chemical inputs, thus rendering them organic by default. Some of them are, though, so if you *need* that certification, just ask.
Is your chocolate certified fair trade?
All of our cacao is sourced according to Direct Trade and/or Conscious Trade Principles. We implore you to research more about why so-called "fair" trade is not very fair at all, while our direct trade premiums are much, much more profitable and sustainable for cacao farmers and their communities.
Do you ship internationally?
We are currently looking into the best manner to ship both in the US and internationally. Shipping chocolate can be tricky, as it needs to remain at a cool temperature. That being said, we have successfully shipped internationally in the past.
More questions?
Give us a call at 504-799-1709 or email info@pietyanddesirechocolate.com