What does Single-Origin Mean?

Many craft chocolate makers including us, print “Single-Origin" on the cover.

What does single-origin mean?

All Chocolate starts with cocoa beans. Single Origin Chocolate means- The COCOA beans used for making the chocolate are sourced from one single region. The beans can be from a single farm, or from farms in a specific region. Ex: Cocoa beans we use for chocolate making come directly from our farm and entire process happens in-house. Single-origin chocolate showcases the terroir, unique environment of a place or region. The most important thing about the single-origin is, TRACEABILITY and FLAVOR

TRACEABILITY: When the beans are grown in the same place, you’ll know exactly from where the cocoa beans comes from. This helps to promote sustainability and fair-trade.

FLAVOR: With one type of beans, it's easier to pick up on a flavor profile that belongs to a certain geographic area. Chocolate taste is partially determined by the environment in which the cacao trees grow. Cocoa beans from different regions have their own distinctive flavors. Ex: Cocoa from our farm and from another farm in the same region may taste different. this is called TERROIR. The flavor is affected by the soil, landscape and environment in which they’re grown.

There are three major factors that determine a single-origin bar's flavor:
TERROIR/ POST-HARVEST/ ROASTING&CONCHING

Does Single-Origin really matter?
As a craft chocolate maker, there is a high chance that we cannot maintain the same taste across all batches even though it's single-origin because each cocoa bean we use for chocolate has its own characteristics and flavor associated with it. What most of us know as chocolate is really just sugar, What big brands concentrate is maintaining the taste across each batch by masking the flavor and bitterness of cocoa beans and they always taste exactly the same.

As a craft chocolate maker we are trying to bring in the unique and natural flavor which is from the cocoa beans that we grow. Now you all know what is Single-Origin and why craft chocolate tastes different and why each batch doesn't taste the same :) Any questions? happy to answer :)