Easter is quickly approaching folks! Are you ready?
Whenever I go to the grocery store I see Easter treats like Lindt chocolate eggs, Reese’s peanut butter eggs, and Cadbury eggs. I loved them (and the the Cadbury commercials with the Easter bunny) when I was a kid! But as cute as these chocolates (and their commercials) may be, there are a number of reasons why you should not buy them, especially when celebrating a day as special as Easter.
Easter is a time when many people indulge in chocolate eggs as a way to celebrate the season. However, it seems as though little thought is given to the fact that not all chocolate eggs are created equal.
Commercial chocolate Easter eggs, which are mass-produced and sold in supermarkets and stores, are often made with lower-quality ingredients and lack the care and attention that craft chocolate Easter eggs receive.
So why would you celebrate a special day like Easter with mediocre items when you can purchase craft chocolate Easter eggs?
Here are just a few reasons why you should consider craft chocolate Easter eggs rather than commercial chocolate Easter eggs.
Firstly, craft chocolate Easter eggs are made with high-quality ingredients. Craft chocolate makers take great care in sourcing the best cocoa beans and other ingredients. The use of high-quality ingredients is evident to your taste buds, as you experience the pleasure of a more refined and complex chocolate flavor, something that is not found in commercial chocolate since it is often masked by excessive amounts of sugar or unhealthy ingredients.
Higher quality chocolate does come at price, but so does mass produced chocolate. Unfortunately, that price is paid through cutting costs by underpaying cacao farmers and the use of child slave labor. Knowing that should leave a bad taste in your mouth for commercial chocolate and be enough of a reason to stay away from it.
Secondly, craft chocolate Easter eggs are often made in small batches, which means that the chocolate maker can pay closer attention to the details of the chocolate-making process. This includes roasting the cocoa beans to perfection, grinding them to the right consistency, and tempering the chocolate to create a smooth texture and shine. The craft chocolate maker can also add unique flavors and textures to the chocolate, such as nuts, fruit, and spices, to create a truly unique and special Easter egg.
Thirdly, craft chocolate Easter eggs are often more environmentally friendly than commercial chocolate Easter eggs. Commercial chocolate Easter eggs are often wrapped in excessive packaging, which contributes to waste and pollution. In contrast, craft chocolate Easter eggs are often wrapped in sustainable packaging, such as recycled paper and biodegradable materials. Additionally, craft chocolatiers often source their ingredients from sustainable and ethical sources, which supports local communities and helps to preserve the environment.
Fourthly, craft chocolate Easter eggs are often made with greater attention to the needs of those with dietary restrictions. Many commercial chocolate Easter eggs contain allergens such as nuts, soy, and dairy, which can be problematic for those with allergies or dietary restrictions. Craft makers often create a wider variety of Easter eggs that are free from these allergens and cater to the needs of those with dietary restrictions.
Finally, craft chocolate Easter eggs are often more meaningful and personal than its mass produced counterpart. The care and attention that goes into making a craft chocolate Easter egg means that it is a unique and special gift that can be enjoyed by the recipient. The chocolate may also have a story behind it, such as being made by a local artisan or sourced from a specific region, which adds to its value and significance. For such a special day as Easter, why would you settle for anything less than the best when it comes to enjoying a chocolatey treat?
Hopefully this sheds some light on the importance of making a shift in our chocolate purchasing habits and that you will join me in this pursuit as well. When you get ready to buy your Easter eggs this year, consider the benefits of choosing a craft chocolate Easter egg over a commercial one and you will be thoroughly rewarded for this wise choice. Your tastebuds and your conscience will thank you for it. But you better hurry, as you know, all good things go quickly in this day and age and specialty craft chocolate eggs are no exception.
Here are a couple of my selections for this Easter. The first is a chocolate egg from Amedei. Its description has me excited for its bright berry notes which I thoroughly enjoy when paired with chocolate. In addition to an Easter egg, this year I’m doing something extra special. I’ve obtained a Pump Street chocolate chicken in acknowledgment that without a chocolate chicken, we wouldn’t have chocolate eggs at Easter.
Now I can’t wait for Easter to arrive. Not just so I can celebrate but also so I can relish in the sumptuous chocolate treats that await.
P.S. Join me for one of my craft chocolate tasting events. I’d love to introduce you to more of the beautiful flavors that the craft chocolate world has to offer.