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Chocolate is usually believed to be an unhealthy snack. But, contrary to popular beliefs, dark chocolate has various health benefits as compared to other types of chocolate.
- Dark chocolate consists of less sugar
Compared to both white and milk chocolate, dark chocolate consists of a slightly lesser amount of sugar. It features cocoa solids/mass as one of its main ingredients, instead of sweetener and cream that are included in other types of chocolate.
- Dark chocolate has a higher amount of antioxidants
Cocoa is known for being rich in antioxidants. Since dark chocolate consists of the most cocoa, it also has a high amount of antioxidants, such as flavonoids and flavonols that are also found in vegetables, green tea, fruits, and red wine.
The presence of antioxidants means that dark chocolate can contribute to reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, improving mood, lowering blood pressure, and decreasing the risks of bad cholesterol. It contains 8X the amount of antioxidants than strawberries.
- It can lower the blood pressure
The bioactive compounds part of the dark chocolate are also useful in lowering the blood pressure, as they can help in producing nitric oxide. This compound further helps in relaxing the arteries.
Why Kanda Chocolate?
After experimenting with a lot of chocolates, we have finally settled on Kanda Chocolates as our favorite product. Kanda Chocolates is a woman-owned, black-owned benefit corporation that sources its ingredients right from where they are produced.
All the chocolates of the company are grown, packed, processed, and posted right from Ghana. In this way, all the Kanda products are made using 100 percent Ghana cocoa beans, together with our simple ingredients. One serving of Kanda Chocolate contains 6% of Potassium, 11% dietary fiber, and 20% iron.
The company is on a mission to give back to the community, practice ethical and economic responsibility, and follow sustainability practices. It focuses on providing opportunities to underrepresented populations through partnerships, charities, and employment practices. To learn more about Kanda, check out our interview below with Karen Blackwell, the founder of Kanda.
Want to elevate your bakes with creamy, nutrient-rich dark chocolate? How about making a chocolate cake extra special by using authentic and sustainable products? Using Kanda Chocolate, you can showcase your commitment to women's struggles while making a delicious cake.
And we have the perfect recipe for you! To get our recipe, all you have to do is sign up for our subscription box, and we will send you the recipe right away. So what are you waiting for? Sign up for our March box and get the perfect chocolatey recipe.
Interview with Karen Blackwell, Founder of Kanda Chocolates
Kimberle: Why did you launch Kanda Chocolates?
Karen: I took a trip to Ghana and while I was there I tasted the chocolate. It was just amazing. It had a different taste to me. The cocoa was grown there and I was highly interested in why we couldn't have it in the U.S.
I went to the Slave Coast Castle and I was just moved. I wanted to partner with Ghana and I knew I didn't want it to be charitable. I came back to the U.S. and spoke with some buyers who said they can't keep chocolate on the shelves. I did some research and found that there isn't a lot of single source fair trade chocolate. So I launched Kanda Chocolates.
Kimberle: What does single source fair trade mean?
Karen: Single source fair trade means you know where the cocoa beans are coming from and it's a single source. Fair trade ensures that you are giving the cocoa farmers a fair wage to bring that chocolate to you. The Chocolate industry is a $350B industry, growing at +5% (the pandemic did not slow it down). The farmers get a small percentage of that and you want to make sure it's fair. A lot of people are now using the term Premium wage because you want to pay even more than the fair trade is paying.
Kimberle: What is so different about the chocolate in Ghana? How is it different than Swiss chocolate?
Karen: There are 600 tasting notes in a cocoa bean (800 in coffee). When you eat chocolate, you're getting all the soil, the environment. Ghana is known for creamier and more cocoa, being more fruit-forward (chocolate is a fruit) than any other cocoa bean in the world. Let's talk about Switzerland. Switzerland and Germany don't grow their own cocoa. They get their cocoa from Ghana! In 2021, the president of Ghana cut Switzerland off because they weren't pay Ghana a fair price.
Kimberle: What is your long-term vision for Kanda Chocolates?
Karen: My plan is to give more back to Ghana and to show people how to create their own chocolate.
Kimberle: What is the sourcing process for chocolate?
Karen: The harvesting season starts in the Fall. My chocolate is grown, processed and packaged in Ghana. I'm not just contributing to the farmers, but everyone involved in the process. When they cut open the cacao bean, they put it on banana leaves to dry out.
Kimberle: What does sustainability mean to you and Kanda Chocolates?
Karen: Sustainability means giving back more than I've taken. Anything I take from the environment, am I giving back? Sure, but it's also giving more and giving back to society. It's making a better future for those who will be here after me. Sustainability also includes humans so we need to make sure we take care of one another.
Kimberle: Our March box features Kanda Chocolates. What makes it healthy?
Karen: Dark chocolates begins at 50% Cacao. The more dark chocolate contents, the more benefits. You can get vitamins like iron in it. It's mood-enhancing. It can enhance your libido for those that want to be romantic. There are studies that show it helps with your brain and heart circulation.