Artist Chocolate

India Idukki Hills 69% vegan

The vegan chocolate is made from Indian cacao beans. They come from Idukki Hills in the south of India in the Kerala region. The cacao beans are sustainably grown by 113 smallholder farmers in the region.

The region grows an abundance of fruits and spices such as coconut, papaya, mango, jackfruit, black pepper, nutmeg and cardamon alongside the cacao. The region is known for a local variety of cacao called Mankuva. It is probably a cross between Trinitario and Forastero cacao. The beans are fermented for 6 days and then spread out on covered wooden tables to dry.

The dark chocolate is sweetened with coconut blossom sugar.

Tasting notes: red berries, dark red fruits, light tobacco notes, nutty and cocoa.

Awards: European Bean-To-Bar International Chocolate Awards:

• Bronze 2020.

The chocolate is sustainable all around, even the packaging is completely plastic-free. The chocolate is:

• vegan
• gluten-free
• lactose-free

Mathieu Dierinck knows his craft. The India Idukki Hills is a beautifully balanced dark Bean-To-Bar chocolate.