Based in Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada, DesBarres Chocolate is a craft bean-to-bar chocolate manufacturer. They make micro-batch, small-batch chocolate that emphasizes the flavour of the cacao bean itself. They frequently sell bars made from a single origin in addition to some inventively flavoured ones. Their handcrafted goods are simple, ethically sourced, and of high quality.
Ariane Hansen and Erik Hansen founded DesBarres Chocolate. Their passion for chocolate and their desire to make it themselves gave rise to the concept. They gladly embraced it after realizing that they could create chocolate straight from bean to bar using simple tools and creativity. The business has the name of Joseph Frederick Wallet DesBarres, a mapmaker and governor from the 18th century. The name has family, personal, and legacy connotations.
Ethically Sourced
DesBarres purchases ethically grown cocoa from a number of countries that supply it. They highlight bars of single origin where the distinct flavour of a specific bean variety and region can be highlighted.
Ingredient Simplicity
Organic cacao beans (after fermentation, drying, roasting, etc.) and organic cane sugar are the main components in the majority of their “unflavoured” bars. Additional ingredients are used to make flavour-infused bars, yet even in these cases, premium and complementary flavours are chosen.
Small / Micro Batch Production
They don’t produce in bulk. They can keep an eye on and make adjustments for bean quality, flavour, and complexity because of the tiny batch size. This improves taste and consistency.
Products & Signature Lines
- Single Origin Bars: bars as Semuliki 72% (Uganda), Jamaica Johnson Mountain 72%, Maya Mountain 72% (Belize), and Ambanja 72% (Madagascar). These display unique terroir-related flavour nuances.
- Seasonal & Flavoured Bars: They provide bars with seasonal ingredients or extra flavours. For instance, Caramel Crush 72% combines salt, crispy butter caramel, and three 72% cacao sources.
- Specialty bars and limited editions: Some bars have distinctive flavour twists and/or packaging, and are seasonal or limited edition.
Recognition & Awards
- At the Academy of Chocolate Awards, the Ambanja 72% (Madagascar) bar has taken home several medals, including Silver, Bronze, and Gold in various years.
- In the craft chocolate community, DesBarres has received praise for their attention to bean provenance, flavour detail, and transparency (for example, through Cocoa Runners).
Community Engagement
- To improve value and consistency, they reintroduced their bars in early 2024 with new packaging and a larger bar size (approximately 38g to approximately 60g).
- They engage in festivals and markets (such as the Junction Farmers’ Market in Toronto and the Uxbridge Farmers’ Market) and work with other local businesses to create special runs (such as chocolate beverages and specialty flavour bars).
- Being located in Ontario, producing artisanal goods in small batches, and sourcing responsibly aligns nicely with consumer trends that value transparency and sustainability.
- Spicy hot chocolate collaboration (Pyromancer Spicy Hot Chocolate) with Hurt Berry Farm.
- There are stockists listed, and they sell through specialty chocolate shops and boutiques.
Conclusion
DesBarres Chocolate is a significant producer in the field of craft chocolate. Ariene and Erik Hansen, two ardent chocolate aficionados, founded the company, which offers a simple, flavorful bean-to-bar experience from a single origin. Both purists and flavour explorers are pleased by their solid ethical sourcing, sparse ingredient lists, and innovative taste. Maintaining the essential values—quality, traceability, and flavour integrity—will be crucial as they expand. Taste the purity of actual bean-to-bar chocolate. Explore DesBarres’ award-winning single origin and flavoured bars today at https://www.desbarreschocolate.com/
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