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River-Sea Chocolates creates craft bean-to-bars using single-origin cacao from small-scale sustainable growers who use sustainable farming methods. The world-classic chocolate is paired with organic and ethically sourced ingredients with less sugar than most other bar chocolates and no emulsifiers or flavorings. You can purchase some of their yummy bars here. We first met the creators of River-Sea Chocolates at the DC Chocolate Festival. Their dedication to producing chocolate in a responsible and sustainable manner really caught our attention. Since getting to know Krissee and her team we have enjoyed seeing their values in action.
Seeing how chocolate is made is a great activity for families! Children are interested in how things work, so naturally how candy is made is on the top of most of their lists. River-Sea Chocolates offer interactive, hands-on factory tours for children to learn about how chocolate is made that follows the journey of the cacao bean from farm to chocolate bar including the factors that contribute to taste. We got to see the different parts of the cocoa plant and see how the beans change through the process. We got to remove the husk from a roasted bean and taste the nib inside. Tours also explore the social and environmental implications of world cacao trade. One of the highlights for us is that they teach the science that goes into tempering and allow tasting cacao from multiple origins around the world. Each child can take home a piece of chocolate they wrapped themselves. There is also the FREE 30 Minute Factory Tour which shows the process from bean to bar and includes FREE Samples!
River-Sea Chocolates Factory 
Chocolate education 
Meet Coco 
A cacao pod 
Single origin sack 
Roasted beans 
Husk and Nib 
Husks make great potpourri 
Nibs 
Factory Tour 
Tempering Chocolate 
Making chocolate bars 
Toppings 
Chocolate makers at work 
Decorating bars 
bars setting 
The bars we made 
Yuuuuuuuuuuum! 
River-Sea Chocolates invited us to experience a Birthday Party at the chocolate factory. These sweet celebrations start with an overview of how chocolate is made. After a short tour of the facility, all the children loved getting to help temper chocolate. Once the chocolate is tempered each child has an opportunity to decorate their own two or four bars with natural ingredients. The white gloves they give the children to remove the bars from the molds are a nice touch. We learned so much about chocolate and the power of choosing sustainable treats! Find out more about parties at River-Sea Chocolates here.
River-Sea Chocolates is dedicated to achieving the best chocolate with the lowest impact. We are really excited for River-Sea Chocolates’ first wind powered cargo shipment of cacao beans! These Fair Transport beans are scheduled to arrive in the US mid April, depending on the wind. With this project River-Sea Chocolates hope they will demonstrate that sail transport is a viable emission-free option for the small business import/export sector while reducing carbon emissions by 99% over conventional cargo transport.
Follow the latest from River-Sea Chocolates on their website and social media, or catch them at the next DC Chocolate Festival!
River-Sea Chocolates
Taste@riverseachocolates.com
(703) 539-2697
4520 Daly Dr Suite 100, Chantilly VA 20151
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