HELLO
NEW ZEALAND Life might be a box of chocolates for some but, in this sweet industry, not everyone gets a fair go at the goodies. Dutch company, Tony’s Chocolonely, has just launched six sensational chocolate bars in New Zealand with mouthwatering flavours – milk chocolate, extra dark chocolate, milk chocolate caramel sea salt, dark chocolate almond sea salt, milk chocolate hazelnut and white chocolate raspberry popping candy all packaged in colourful wrappers. But what makes this chocolate extra appealing (other than its taste) is that the company was founded after three journalists discovered some of the world’s largest chocolate manufacturers were buying cocoa from plantations which used illegal child labour and modern slavery.
Furthermore, 1% of Tony’s Chocolonely net revenue is donated to the Chocolonely Foundation, supporting projects to eradicate modern slavery in the cocoa chain. Now that this new range has landed on our shores, many Kiwis will be keen to tastre but do note – each bar is formed with chunky, unequally divided chocolate portions to reflect the social inequality of the chocolate industry but, of course, that doesn’t reflect on its overall size or its moreishness!
The trio wanted to make 100% slave-free the norm in chocolate making so it set about producing chocolate in a fair manner and to inspire other chocolate companies to join their mission. Dedicating its efforts to raise awareness about the inequality in the industry, the company has built direct long-term relationships with cocoa farmers in Ghana and Ivory Coast, paying them a higher price and working together to solve the underlying causes of modern slavery and illegal child labour. www.eastlife.co.nz
RIFLEMANS TAKES AIM, THIEF CAPTURES ATTENTION Billed as a superhero duo, Sacred Hill expects its 2019 Riflemans and Wine Thief chardonnays to subdue their critics. “These single origin Chardonnays are the culmination of more than 25 years of winemaking from the Riflemans Vineyard,” Sacred Hill founder, David Mason, says. “They are our way of sharing our passion for this grape variety with wine lovers around the world.” Offering intense fruit flavours and delicate oak treatment, both wines pack quite the punch; Wine Thief is layered with vanilla and stone fruit flavours and is richer and toastier than the more refined Riflemans.
Tony’s Chocolonely can be found in New World supermarkets and independent retailers nationwide (RRP $7.99 180g bar).
Both of these chardonnays (RRP $34.99 for Wine Thief and $69.99, Riflemans) are available from fine wine retailers and via www.sacredhill.com. eastlife | october 2020 |
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