Thursday, 21 February 2013

Mad about chocolate…


 
Whittaker’s is one of New Zealand’s most trusted brands; in fact, it IS New Zealand’s most trusted brand as voted in the annual Reader’s Digest survey. And why not? It makes some of the world’s finest chocolates, being a bean to bar manufacture that keeps an eye on their precious cocoa beans from the farm to the factory. They turn their Ghanaian and Malagasy (Madagascar) cocoa beans directly into their renowned chocolates, as opposed to melting them first and then turning them into chocolate products. This bean to bar process is done for two main reasons; firstly, it ensures that the beans retain their natural flavor (especially important since Whittaker’s uses some of the finest cocoa beans) and, secondly, to make sure that chocolate is made in the most ethical and sustainable way possible (Whittaker’s purchases its beans from the Ghanaian Cocoa board that tries to ensure responsible and ethical practices).  This bean to bar methodology also applies to their non-cocoa related ingredients like macadamia nuts and almonds. Whittaker’s only sources the finest ingredients to be used in their chocolate. 


But it’s not like Whittaker’s emerged as one of Australasia's premium chocolate makers overnight. The business started when James Henry Whittaker immigrated to New Zealand in 1890 and begun making his own chocolate in his Christchurch home to be sold door to door. In 1913 two of J.H Whittaker’s sons, Ronald and James, joined their father in partnership to establish J.H. Whittaker and Sons. Today Whittaker’s is still a family run business that is committed to producing excellent tasting chocolates. Despite the age of the business, it still continues to innovate and add new products to their line. There are too many delicious Whittaker’s chocolate (and non-chocolate) treats to list here, but take a look for yourself at Shop NewZealand.

No comments: