YOU (wellness), the FARMER (equity), and the PLANET (sustainability) are at the heart of our whole cacao vision
Blue Stripes has always been more than just about Cacao Wellness and Chocolate Fun.It was never just about exploring the exciting and unknown culinary potential and benefits of the whole cacao. We love cacao – its heritage, mysticism, taste, colors – and therefore we just can’t stand the idea that up to 70% of the cacao fruit is discarded once the beans are harvested to make chocolate.
We just know, as it was for ancient cultures which appreciated this magical plant, that there’s a way to use every part of the whole cacao in a way that is good for you, good for the cacao farming community, and good for the planet. That’s why we’re committed to a whole cacao revolution, and to crafting recipes that live up to the standards of our three-part “trilosophy” of wellness, equity, and sustainability.
That’s why we’ve decided to lead a whole cacao revolution – so that everyone can experience the health benefits of cacao! By relying on both science and tradition, we’ve been able to create a collection of whole cacao products that are not only delicious, but good for your physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
Whole cacao is a powerhouse of superfood nutrition that benefits both body and mind. Even the ancient Aztecs recognized the power inside this “food of the Gods” by consuming cacao before and during their ceremonial rituals or hunting trips. Since then, science has proven what people have known for thousands of years: cacao is one of the healthiest foods we can consume.
That’s why it was surprising for us to learn that much of the cacao grown today actually goes to waste! This means that we’ve all been missing out on the numerous superfood nutrients found in the pulp and shell of the cacao plant, like vitamins, antioxidants, and other mineral compounds that keep your body and mind performing at their best.
Developing an equitable relationship with our cacao farmers is an essential part of the Blue Stripes trilosophy. By crafting recipes that make use of the whole cacao plant, we’re able to ensure equitable compensation for the farmers who work hard to grow and cultivate high-quality cacao.
Because most chocolatiers (from big chocolate corporations to small artisanal chocolate makers) use only a small portion of the cacao fruit – the beans – to make chocolate, the farmers who supply those beans only make a fraction of the profits they could, while still working long hours and using considerable land resources. For us, equity means creating a healthy, sustainable financial model that prioritizes people over profits and works hand-in-hand with the other two parts of our trilosophy.
Partnering directly with the farms allows us to live up to our promise of equity by investing in the economic development of the local communities with whom we collaborate. We don’t just donate a percentage of our profits to the farmers – by using the whole cacao fruit, we actually enable them to earn more wages for the same amount of work as harvesting cacao only for its beans.
We want to make sure that our farmers are able to work in optimal conditions. That means nothing goes to waste – not the cacao, and not the time and resources of the farmers who make up our supply chain. It’s a win for all of us – for the health and wellness of our customers, the local economies of our farmers, and for the planet.
We know how precious the Earth’s resources are and how important it is to protect the health of our planet. That’s exactly why we’re so committed to whole cacao – not only does it benefit our customers and farmers, but using 100% of the cacao fruit keeps our focus on a low-waste and sustainable approach to cacao that is good for the planet, too.
We take our position as leaders of the whole cacao revolution seriously. We’re committed to a healthy future not just for our business, but for everyone. When 70% of the cacao fruit is discarded, it creates a huge amount of waste that is harmful to our environment and that worsens the effects of climate change. We want to do everything we can to maintain and promote environmental resiliency, and we know that real change begins with us. When we say “revolution,” we really mean it! Join the whole cacao revolution and make a change through your very own personal wellness change.
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