At The Chocolatier, chocolate is more than a sweet treat. It’s science and soul — and a medium for change. When you hold a piece of our handmade chocolates, you’re holding the story of a specific forest, a specific farmer, a specific moment.
In the world of luxury chocolates, “single origin” is often used as a marketing buzzword. For us, it’s the foundation. It’s the difference between generic sweetness and a true sensory experience — and the reason provenance matters.
What Does Single Origin Actually Mean?
Single origin chocolate is made from cacao beans sourced from one defined place — a country, a region, or a single estate.
Why it matters: cacao carries its environment. Like fine wine, it’s shaped by terroir — soil, rainfall, altitude and surrounding flora. Blend beans at scale and you iron out those differences, leaving a flat, uniform flavour that needs heavy processing and extra sugar.
Single origin lets the bean speak. Citrus, tobacco, jasmine, red berries — clear, precise, unapologetic.
THE SCIENCE OF TASTE: THE ANEESH POPAT APPROACH
Our founder, Aneesh Popat, approaches chocolate with a scientist’s eye. With a background in mathematics and science, he views flavour through molecular composition — the cacao bean as a complex equation.
The aim is integrity — preserving the bean’s DNA and a clean palate. That’s why many creations are water-based rather than cream-based: to avoid dairy’s fatty film dulling the delicate, high-frequency notes of single origin chocolate.
OUR COMMITMENT TO 100% REGENERATIVE CACAO
At the heart of our mission is a commitment to REGENERATIVE CACAO. We don't just want to "do no harm"; we want to actively heal the planet through our craft. This is why our partnership with Original Beans is so vital.
While sustainable chocolate is a step in the right direction, regenerative cacao goes further. It involves farming practices that restore biodiversity, improve soil health, and sequester carbon. It is a philosophy that views the cacao farm not as a monoculture, but as a thriving ecosystem.
Why is our partnership with Original Beans so significant?
Original Beans is a pioneer in ethical chocolate. For every bar we create using their beans, a tree is planted in the region where the cacao was grown. Their “One Bar : One Tree” initiative has helped plant millions of trees, restoring some of the world’s most threatened rainforests. When you choose our luxury chocolates, you’re directly participating in reforestation.
THE IMPACT: CHOCOLATE AS A FORCE FOR GOOD
We talk about impact because it’s real — for people and wildlife in the world’s most fragile hotspots.
RADICAL TRANSPARENCY is a core pillar. You should know exactly where your chocolate comes from, and who it supports.
- Protecting Wildlife: In places like Virunga National Park, rare cacao provides sustainable income for local communities, reducing pressure on mountain gorilla habitats.
- Empowering Communities: By sourcing directly and paying well above “Fair Trade”, farmers gain the security to support families and invest in their land — the true meaning of ethical chocolate.
- Preserving Heritage: We use heirloom cacao that was close to extinction, helping protect genetic diversity for the future.
WHY SINGLE ORIGIN TASTES SUPERIOR
If you’re used to mass-produced chocolate, high-percentage single origin chocolate can be a revelation.
Industrial chocolate is engineered for consistency. Beans are blended from hundreds of farms across continents so a bar in London tastes the same as one in New York. The beans are over-roasted to erase “irregular” flavours, then vanillin and soya lecithin are added to create a standardised profile.
Our artisan chocolates do the opposite — they honour difference.
- The Aroma: Distinct and origin-led — earthy, floral, dried apricot.
- The Melt: High-quality cacao butter, minimal additives; flavour releases in stages.
- The Finish: Long, evolving, lingering.
CRAFTING THE EXTRAORDINARY
From bean to box, everything is intentional. We honour the farmers’ work and the cacao’s natural brilliance.
BESPOKE EXCELLENCE
We craft experiences — from bespoke orders for Michelin-starred kitchens to curated gift boxes. The priority is always ingredient purity.
In the workshop, we explore how single origin bases meet botanicals, spices and fruits — with restraint. Inclusions never outshine the cacao. The chocolate remains the hero.
HOW TO ENJOY LUXURY CHOCOLATE: A MINI-GUIDE
To appreciate the nuance of sustainable chocolate, keep it simple:
- Look: Glossy sheen. Clean snap.
- Smell: Warm it in your hands. Inhale.
- Taste: Let it melt — don’t chew.
- Observe: Notice the flavour shift: fruit to nut, spice to floral, bright to deep.
A NECESSARY RESPITE
The world moves fast. Fine artisan chocolate asks you to slow down — five minutes of stillness, properly savoured.
At The Chocolatier, we make chocolate that tastes exceptional and does good — for the planet, for farmers, for you.
Explore our full collection and discover your favourite origin — from bold, smoky African cacao to delicate, floral South American beans. There’s a world of flavour waiting.
Thank you for choosing a more delicious, more ethical way to indulge. Your choice makes a difference.
CONGRATULATIONS on choosing better.
For more information on our sourcing and environmental impact, please visit our Mission Page or check out our latest videos showing the cacao forests in action.