Extortionate Easter eggs and shrinking sweets: fears grow of a ‘chocolate meltdown’

[maryjaneholland]

Poor harvests in extreme weather conditions have led to a tripling of cocoa prices – but farmers have seen no benefit

Extortionate Easter eggs and shrinking sweets: fears grow of a ‘chocolate meltdown’

Poor harvests in extreme weather conditions have led to a tripling of cocoa prices – but farmers have seen no benefit

www.theguardian.com

The age of extinction series, The Guardian, article written by Patrick Greenfield

Personally, I know conventional high sugar high fat high calories chocolate is food item people living with diabetes should ideally only have in strict moderation, but calendar events throughout the year involving high calorie high sugar high carb high fat foods are not going away any time soon, and good alternative to confectionery is organic cacao nibs, which are whole dried cocoa beans roasted and chopped without any extra loose sugars or refined fats or emulsifiers added, if you can find Fairtrade cacao supplier this means the farmers will get better deal too

Having to cutdown on caffeine also, so my Easter treats are Nakd bars made from chopped nuts and chopped dates and nothing else, but I appreciate these are small bars only in moderation as dried fruit is also high sugar food item, enjoy your bank holiday weekend, corporate greed has not helped desperate African cocoa farmers in our age of extinction

 

[maryjaneholland]

It's a bittersweet Easter for chocolate lovers and African cocoa farmers but big brands see profits​

Shoppers may get a bitter surprise in their Easter baskets this year​

It's a bittersweet Easter for chocolate lovers and African cocoa farmers but big brands see profits

Shoppers may get a bitter surprise in their Easter baskets this year

www.independent.co.uk

More photos and slightly different take on cocoa-geddon story focusing on Mondelez, plus I remembered what my self-sufficiency hippy Mother used to make for us kids as "health shop alternative" to sugar-filled chocolate sweets and confectionery... Carob Balls!

Carob powder comes from carob beans with rich dark flavour very similar to cacao beans, but naturally caffeine free, and the "Carob Balls" were very similar to Nakd bars, with variety of chopped nuts, chopped dried fruit, peanut butter and carob powder made by hand, will look up exact carb amounts which must be similar to most beans so lower carb! 😉

 

[maryjaneholland]

Cacao Nibs - there are many varieties and brands available, but nibs are the most unrefined, and there is one brand Naturya which is available in supermarkets, organic and fairtrade so cocoa farmers are getting better deal, unrefined cacao is around 15% carbs, 56% fats, high in fibre, protein, minerals and feel good chemical compounds like flavonols, shop around as bulk sizes work out cheaper if you are baking and switching away from refined foods 🙂

Cacao Nibs

Hand-harvested, pure roasted organic cacao nibsSource of magnesium to nourish mental wellbeingCopper & magnesium help to energise the bodyRich in copper to support immunityOrganic, Vegan and Gluten-free

naturya.com

 

[maryjaneholland]

Carob powder comes from the pod of trees grown in Mediterranean climate, there are many brands and varieties sold in health shops and online retailer, different composition to cocoa so fat free caffeine free, but high in sugars and fibre, but mostly added to baking by tablespoon measures and not consumed as powder, with light brown colour and subtle flavour notes, this is good example as it includes the full nutritional composition and source, Italy, Whole Food Earth...

Organic Carob Powder | Whole Food Earth®

Carob is a dairy-free, nutritious substitute for chocolate.Carob originates from the pod of a tree that grows along the Mediterr...

wholefoodearth.com