With the exception of being pregnant, ironically, I have daily cravings for dark chocolate. My true love for this indulgence started when I studied abroad in France and was enchanted by the shops that displayed these delicious treats like precious pieces of jewelry. The translation for window shopping in French is “faire du leche-vitrines,” which translates to “licking the windows of the shops.” I quickly learned why this saying came to be. I stocked my fridge with delicate selections each week to end each meal “the French way” as my French roommate would say. This meant ending a meal with something sweet.
As my diet has became more restrictive over the years due to food intolerances, dark chocolate has continued to be my sweet treat of choice because it is naturally gluten-free and dairy-free. This makes it a dessert my taste buds and belly can enjoy. Chocolate is also not too sweet and is packed with antioxidants to boot. I am sharing three of my favorite chocolate shops I love to order from online and hope you can try them too!
Fine & Raw
Daniel Sklaar started making small chocolate batches out of a Brooklyn loft and delivering them on his bicycle to local purveyors. Everything is ethically sourced and plant-based, including their truffles!
I was ecstatic to be able to indulge in eating a dairy-free truffle after many years of sadly turning down offerings of them at chocolate shops and holidays. They are packaged beautifully with a handwritten note, describing their monthly flavors. They also have a 1-3 month subscription option where you can receive a 15% discount.
My favorite of their handmade bars is their 70% sea salt bar. Their ingredients are always very clean. For example, this bar contains: organic cacao, organic coconut sugar, organic cacao butter, and sea salt. They also make a great hazelnut chocolate butter spread!
Dandelion Chocolate Company
This San Franciscan company makes exquisite single-origin bean-to-bar chocolates. Their bars only contain cocoa beans and organic cane sugar. They sort, roast, crack, winnow, grind, conch and temper small batches of beans. With this minimal approach, these small batches aim at highlighting the individual nuances of each cocoa bean.
Dandelion work with a variety of cocoa farmers and producers so there are frequently new bars to taste from different parts of the world. There are also descriptions of the farm and the tasting notes are on each bar. For example, on the bar from Semuliki, Uganda, the tasting notes described are cacao fruit nectar, banana and cream cheese.
I have moments of mindfulness with these bars by as I allow each square to melt in my mouth and appreciate the bean’s unique qualities. They’re also very rich and a little goes along way.
Inuru
I absolutely love Inaru’s seasonal flavors, such as the 66% vanilla and chamomile bar, which has flavors infused by hand. Their bars are made by pure and minimal ingredients with a base of cacao beans, cane sugar, and cocoa butter. Inaru has an equally great origin story. Inaru was created by two passionate sisters, Janett and Erika Liriano, who moved from New York to their father’s cacao farm in Santa Domingo.
Their mission is to transform the finest organic cacao into the finest chocolate. They want to help ensure the rich Argo-forests of their heritage land, where the majority of organic cacao in grown in the world, will stay for generations to come. Inaru funds regenerative farming, expansion and tools. They also rightfully share its profits with farmers who grow the bean. You can feel guilt-free about the chocolate you’re enjoying, knowing the Inaru team is following good practices and you’re consuming quality ingredients.
Jcoo
I love the delightful flavors this company offers, which are always wrapped with whimsical colors. Two selections I’ve ordered on repeat include boharat spice and orange blossom espresso. This company also has an inspiring origin story. Jean Thompson courageously opened Jcoco in after an earthquake that destroyed Seattle Chocolate Company’s original factory, with a goal of feeding hungry families with their bars. With each Jcoco purchase, they donate fresh servings of food to those in need through partnerships with food banks in Washington, California, and New York.