TASTY ORGANIC AND FAIR TRADE CERTIFIED™ TREATS THAT GIVE BACK
Words, Judith Ecochard, Images from the Shaman Chocolate website
Holiday festivities that span Halloween through New Years’ weeks - provide an annual pass Go and indulge/gift card to all sorts of sweet behaviors.
For us, we like to tempt our palate (who doesn’t) but knowing that dark chocolate yields cardio-vascular benefits and that all proceeds from the sales of the socially responsible gourmet Shaman Chocolates- are used to support and protect the Central Mexican Huichol Indian culture…
Well who can resist?
BACKSTORY: According to a press release “…for more than 30 years, Brant Secunda and the Dance of the Deer Foundation Center for Shamanic Studies have worked to support the economic and cultural survival of the traditional Huichol Indians.”
An ‘adopted’ grandson, Secunda has seen the often destructive forces of modern life on the ancient ceremonial and healing traditions of his ‘family’ - considered the last tribe in North America to have maintained their pre-Columbian traditions.
Via donated time of Secunda’s students, Shaman Chocolates is a thriving business that gives back to the Huichols “in appreciation for the beauty and power this tradition has brought to their lives.” One recent project that benefited from sales, for example, - is a new high school building in a Huichol village- so that children can attend a geographically accessible facility.
THE CHOCOLATES: Available in several flavors (Dark Chocolate, Dark Chocolate With Raspberries, Dark Chocolate with Coconut, Milk Chocolate, Milk Chocolate with Hazelnuts) …the sacred “Food of the Gods” are all made from the finest quality certified organic and Fair Trade chocolates blended with the best organic ingredients.
We devoured our samples on a respite during a challenging mountain hike and savored every bite- but not before admiring the colorful artwork and imagery that adorns the outfits of the Huichol Indians pictured on the new wrappers.
The super high quality of the deluxe chocolates is obvious at first nibble…right up there with some of the top (pricey) French chocolates we’ve sampled.
RETAIL: Approximately $3 for a 2 oz. bar.
INFO: FAIR TRADE CERTIFIED
SHAMAN CHOCOLATES
877.990.3337
