NEWS

2 July 2007

Belcolade has launched two new Costa Rican origin chocolates made with cocoa beans sourced from a Rainforest Alliance Certified™ farm – guaranteeing that these beans have been grown and harvested responsibly. The new range consists of medium viscosity noir and lait chocolates that are ideal for moulding, enrobing, as well as for use in many other applications.

Both varieties are produced from Costa Rican Trinitario cocoa beans, and are supplied as drops. The noir chocolate delivers an exquisite bitter aroma with a strong flavour that is full of character. Sweet and velvety smooth, the lait chocolate offers a subtle taste of lightly roasted cocoa beans that lovers of creamy chocolate are sure to enjoy.

Users of these new chocolates from Belcolade will enable consumers to enjoy great-tasting chocolate while also making a positive contribution to sustainable development. 

Only farms that meet the Rainforest Alliance's environmental and social standards are awarded certification. This ensures that production and farming methods are balanced against the needs of the local ecosystem, and protect its soil, rivers and wildlife. It also guarantees that farmers and farm workers have access to clean and safe living and working conditions, as well as schools, healthcare, decent wages, better markets for their crops and other rights and benefits. 

Belcolade has also launched a range of Fairtrade certified noir, lait and blanc organic chocolate which is made using cocoa from the Dominican Republic.

The Rainforest Alliance is an international non-profit organisation which works to protect biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land use practices, business practices and consumer behaviour. For more information visit www.rainforest-alliance.org or click here to download extended Belcolade information about Rainforest Alliance.