Theo Chocolate was founded in 2006 by Joe Whinney and Debra Music and is based in Seattle, USA. The company is known as being the first organic, fair-trade certified, bean-to-bar chocolate maker in North America, and offers chocolate made with beans from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Peru, as well as confections and caramels. In this episode, Joe tells us about experiencing Mayan cocoa drinks and working on cacao farms as a young conservation volunteer, the many ideas he had to support these farmers that eventually led to building the Theo factory in Seattle in 2005, and why organic certification is important to them.

Please join us in tasting the Bread and Chocolate bar. Learn more at theslowmelt.com. For more information on Theo, head to their website (www.theochocolate.com), and use code “slowmelt” for a 50% discount on their fantasy bar line, including the Bread and Chocolate bar, from now until October 15, 2017. You can also purchase an exclusive bar bundle, including all nine bars featured in the Makers Series, at Chocolopolis.com (in the U.S.; use code “slowmelt” for a 15% discount), and find most of the bars in a subscription box by BeanBarYou.com.au (in Australia).

This episode is brought to you with the kind support of these sponsors:

• Rottar Grinders: Chocolate grinders designed and built by a chocolate maker in the USA. Learn more at www.rottar.com.

• Blue Apron: $30 off your first order with free shipping at blueapron.com/chocolate.

• Audible: Get a free audiobook of your choice and free 30-day trial at www.audibletrial.com/chocolate.

Soundtrack: "Soldier" by The Slackers. Hear more at theslackers.com.