Moser-Roth Organic Peruvian Ginger and Mandarin Dark Chocolate

Chocolate origins.

If you are a chocolate lover, then you'll know that a true single origin chocolate can be just as complex and specialist as a fine wine. In fact, these days, many fine chocolates use the term "single origin" as a way to distinguish their product from other brands that use blends or blends of lower quality cocoa beans.

At its most basic, single origin means that the chocolate is made using cacao beans from one specific place or “origin.” That might not sound so special, but most mainstream chocolate is made using a blend of beans from a lot of different countries. Big brands even create proprietary blends so that their chocolate always tastes exactly the same. In the past 20 years or so, though, artisan chocolate makers have started making bars using beans from one country — and sometimes even one farm — in order to focus on the terroir of that specific bean.

Single-origin chocolate means that the beans used to make the chocolate came from one particular place. It's important to note that this doesn't mean that the product was made in that location, but rather that the beans are from there. Many craft chocolate makers buy their beans from farmers in South America and Central America (where most higher-quality cacao comes from) and ship them back to the U.S. and around the world before starting to work with them.

However, this does not mean that all single origin chocolates are of equal quality. The term "single origin" should not be taken as an assurance of high quality, as this depends on who is actually making the chocolate and what quality of cocoa they are using.

Is it healthy?

It's not a secret that dark chocolate is delicious. But did you know that it's also good for you?

While eating dark chocolate won't instantly or directly impact any health concerns you may have, what is certain is that cocoa is rich in three types of flavonoids—phytochemicals in nearly all plant-based foods that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant powers. This is important because chronic inflammation is linked to conditions such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, metabolic syndrome, asthma, heart disease, and cancer. Cocoa's compounds also benefit cardiovascular health by improving blood flow, reducing the risk of clotting, and improving blood pressure levels. Cocoa is also rich in iron, zinc, copper, and magnesium—all critical minerals needed for healthy blood, immunity, and cell growth.

If you're looking for a way to up your flavanol intake, be sure to check the ingredients list on your chocolate bar. If it says "processed with alkali," you may have fewer flavanols than you'd expect.

The process of Dutching is what makes the chocolate darker, and the name comes from the fact that it was originally used in Holland. It involves adding an alkaline solution (such as potassium carbonate) to cocoa mass, which reduces acidity and helps darken the colour of the final product.

It's important to note that this process isn't unsafe – it's actually been done for centuries! And if you prefer chocolates with a stronger flavour, then this might be a good thing for you. But, if your goal is to increase your flavanol intake? Well, we suggest going for something without dutching or processed with alkali on its label!

It probably goes without saying that some chocolate is healthier for you than others. Watch out for any pesky additives, make sure cocoa is one of the first ingredients listed and be aware of the sugar content of your chocolate.

Mandarin and Ginger.

What a combination! The aromatic sweetness of the mandarin paired with a subtle spicy ginger aftertaste is absolutely dreamy, if you like that sort of thing. The chocolate itself is smooth and rich with accentuating pieces of ginger and balanced notes of mandarin running through it. It's easy to break a chunk off as the bar is quite thin but the squares are a little bit larger than what's normally found in mainstream chocolate. A tinfoil wrap inside keeps this vegetarian friendly chocolate bar fresh. It's a personal choice, of course, but I always think chocolate tastes better when it's fresh out of the fridge.

The only downside we found with this particular chocolate is that there wasn't enough! It's so delicious, if you're anything like us, you won't be able to put it down.

Fairtrade and Organic.

You can feel good about your choice when you buy Fairtrade chocolate because you'll know the extra money that went into it is helping keep kids in school, farmers in work and fight climate change. When you choose Fairtrade chocolate, or tea, bananas or any of their other Fairtrade products, you know that the farmers and workers in developing countries received an additional Fairtrade Premium on top of the price of their crops that goes towards supporting their communities.

Cocoa farmers typically struggle to make a decent living, as cocoa prices have fallen and cocoa trees are increasingly attacked by disease and age. Young people who might otherwise consider becoming cocoa farmers are increasingly reluctant to do so, because they don't see a future in it. This is why it is so important to support Fairtrade. Fairtrade farmers can be sure their income will rise above the minimum market price, giving them more money for healthcare, education, and other social needs.

Organic chocolate is healthier, better for the farmers who produce it and better for the environment than its more traditional alternatives. It doesn't need synthetic pesticides, fertilisers, herbicides and other chemicals to be grown, meaning local eco systems are not disrupted and neither is your gut. You can read more about organic chocolate in this article.

What's in it?

The following information about the ingredients of Moser Roth Organic, Peruvian, Fairtrade, Mandarin and Ginger chocolate as found on the Aldi website is below:

And finally.

It's always worth checking the % of cocoa in your dark chocolate. Many of the larger, mainstream brands use the word 'dark' but the cocoa percentage is low. If you're looking to consume chocolate for the associated health benefits, a higher percentage of cocoa is better. This Moser Roth Mandarin and Ginger comes in at a cool 60% minimum cocoa.

When you choose fairtrade you can do so with a clear conscious. When you choose organic, you know you're doing your bit to give your body and the planet their best option.