To ask you to help me source ethical chocolate

[TrialOfStyle]

I’m not just talking paying a fair wage (as that may well be done for the adults), but ones that don’t exploit children.

I was watching a documentary (it’s a few years old now) about the chocolate industry and it mentioned Nestle. It was a sad watch but I thought most companies have changed - though from what I gather, Nestle still aren’t doing enough to combat the problem.

I’ve had a google and found Tony’s Chocolonely (are they any good?), but I want to have a variety to choose that are entirely ethical.

Also, are there other companies that should still be avoided? Mars was mentioned a few times in old articles and I can’t tell about now, but I’m still thinking they should be avoided.

What are your votes?

Going against the grain here to say Tony’s tastes really gross to me. It’s overly sweet, a bit synthetic, and hard to break off or chew. My husband said it’s confectionery instead of actual chocolate and I have to agree with him. Maybe have a look at Holland & Barrett’s website for different chocolate bars.

Concious Chocolate - the citrus zest flavour is amazing!

Another vote for Divine chocolate. The milk with toffee and sea salt is my most favourite chocolate ever and the dark choc and raspberry my second favourite.

I do love Tony's but it tends to upset my tummy if I eat too much. So does Domino's pizza though, so maybe I'm just odd.

Solkiki is the best - they deal directly with the farmers one on one so the growers get something like £1 per bar as opposed to most other chocolate makers where they end up with the equivalent of about 1p per bar. Plus the chocolate is delicious and has won loads of awards. It's a really small family-run operation and the chocolate isn't cheap but it's really worth it.

www.solkiki.co.uk/

I have a nice one fair trade ethical one called Eat your Hat. I got a box from a discount warehouse so not sure who stocks it

LickTheSpoon. Their ethical checking is second to none for all their ingredients. They have removed all plastic packaging (they use compostable wrappers), and made their factory as green as possible. They also sponsor children in Madagascar.

And their chocolate is amazing.

Divine, Seed and Bean, Tonys, Chocolat Madagascar, Traidcraft all good. Ethical Consumer mag just did an article on chocolate and these all scored highly. Cadburys came absolute last. Green and Blacks, Sainsbury's fair trade did badly too.

Another huge Tony’s fan.
Try the almond, honey, milk chocolate one.
Heavenly!!

If you want ethical, don’t buy milk chocolate. Unless of course your ethics only extend as far as humans.

Another vote for Tony's. The Christmas gingerbread variety is amazing! Also Cocoa Loca does nice chocolates (not sure if they also do chocolate bars - I have bought their chocolate spoons and white chocolate pigs!).

www.traidcraftshop.co.uk/food/organic-confectionery?p=1

Wide range of fairtrade confectionery at Traidcraft!

I like these guys for things that are more appealing to kids. They do a dark chocolate equivalent of maltesers (not as good but they are okay) and smarties (which I love).

doisyanddam.com/

Tony’s is the best milk chocolate I have ever tasted! And I know chocolate! Also credentials stack up.

Willies also good from an ethical stance, lovely if you like dark choc.

Oh, the Willies orange one is lovely

Thank you for the suggestions - seems that Tony’s is a hit! Luckily I’m an occasional chocolate eater these days so I don’t mind viewing it as a treat and spending a bit more.

I’ve often bought the Devine calendars from charity shops in the past. I do like Seed and Bean too. I’m never sure how to tell if it’s sourced responsibly - especially when trying to make a quick decision in the shop.

@Cautionsharpblade

If you want ethical, don’t buy milk chocolate. Unless of course your ethics only extend as far as humans.

Small steps. I care about animals, but I care more about children and people working in poor conditions whilst balancing that with what’s affordable on a budget. Unnecessary things that are ‘treats’ I at least want to buy as ethically as possible even if I can’t extend that curtesy to every essential need right now.

I like Tony's a lot but it's more like Belgian milk chocolate, sweet and creamy (nothing wrong with that) and their take on a toblerone is amazing, if you like something with a little more of a cocoa hit Divine is more along those lines or look locally, we have a tiny handmade chocolate shop nearby, all ingredients ethically sourced, pricy but absolutely delicious and a nice treat on occasion

@TrialOfStyle it’s the same price for milk and dark chocolate so finances won’t impede your ethical stance on this one

@Hayeahnobut

If you want to be completely ethical, you can order Tony Chocolonely's direct from them. It costs a little more but you're not giving a chunk of your spending to a corporate along the way.

I just looked on the website to order direct, they don't have the gingerbread or candy cane one on there.

Babipur have a fabulous ethical chocolate selection (don’t work for them before anyone accuses me!) and I think has 25% off Tonys at the mo - I love the salted caramel one

We like Divine.
The one on the programme I remember was Lucocoa, sounded really tasty.

@DianaT1969 Lindor contain palm oil btw!

@Cautionsharpblade

If you want ethical, don’t buy milk chocolate. Unless of course your ethics only extend as far as humans.

I agree

Have some vegan guilt with your sweeties. Yum!