Yes! The cocoa we grow on our farm and use in our chocolates is totally organic and of the highest quality. To prove it, we are accredited by the USDA/NOP and by CERES.

The labels and technical data sheets of our products always show the allergens they may contain. All our products are free of:

• Gluten
• Egg and egg products
• Fish and derivatives
• Mustard and derivatives
• Crustaceans and derivatives
• Molluscs and derivatives
• Sulfites
• Peanuts and derivatives
• Sesame seeds and derivatives
• Celery and derivatives

The world cocoa market distinguishes between two broad categories of cocoa beans: "fine aroma" cocoa beans and "bulk" or "ordinary" cocoa beans. Fine flavors include fruits (fresh and golden, ripe fruit), floral, herbal and woodsy notes, nutty and caramel notes, as well as rich and balanced chocolate bases. Generally, the ICO (International Cocoa Organization) uses a combination of criteria to evaluate the quality of fine aroma cocoa. These include the genetic origin of the planting material, the morphological characteristics of the plant, the taste characteristics of the cocoa beans produced, the chemical characteristics of the cocoa beans, the color of the beans and the cocoa seeds, the degree of fermentation, drying, acidity, off-flavors, percentage of internal mold, insect infestation and percentage of impurities.

This certification is a great endorsement of our farms' commitment to clean and organic cocoa production. CERES (CERtification of Environmental Standards) is a German certification for organic agriculture and food processing, organic textiles, Good Agricultural and Manufacturing Practices in the food industry, and also a certification according to several agricultural sustainability standards.

In the past, the chocolate-making process used to begin in a tree in the tropics and end in a factory in the global north. But over the past few decades, some visionary cocoa producers have decided to keep a good portion of the final value of the fruit in our country of origin. That's why the chocolates we make at Bolitos & Candin say "Tree to Bar", because we are in charge of the whole process, from planting the tree in perfect conditions to making the bars with care, maintaining total control over the cocoa from cultivation to manufacturing.

Established by the U.S. Congress in 2001, this federal regulatory program develops and enforces uniform national standards for organically produced agricultural products sold in the United States. Operating as a public-private partnership, NOP (National Organic Program) accredits private companies and helps train their inspectors to certify that farms and businesses comply with national organic standards. The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) and accredited certifiers also work together to enforce the standards, ensuring a level playing field for producers and protecting consumer confidence in the integrity of the USDA Organic Seal.