What is your Summer Shipping Policy (US Orders Only)
During the warmer months (typically Jun-Sep), most orders will ship from Monday through Wednesday so that they arrive before the weekend. This makes it easier for us to keep your chocolate cool during transit. If you need to rush your shipment, regardless of temperature, please write to us at hello@toakchocolate and we will do our best to get the shipment out that same day.
How much do you pay your farmers?
We pay a farmgate price that is 3-8x the standard market price for “wet cacao" — well above the fair trade premium.
Does your chocolate have an expiration date?
Officially, the shelf life of dark chocolate is two years. Unofficially, it should last much longer than that - there are documented reports of dark chocolate still being edible after 100 years of storage. As part of our own experiment, we have chocolate bars that have been stored in our office for up to six years, and they are still in excellent condition. But we don’t recommend trying that at home. Why wait?
What is terroir-driven chocolate & why do you release different harvest years?
To’ak’s Harvest editions offer connoisseurs of dark chocolate this same opportunity—to taste not only the land, but also the characteristics of the particular year in which it was harvested.
Is your chocolate certified organic?
Yes, all of our chocolate is certified USDA Organic, with the exception of our Galapagos edition.
Can I store my chocolate in the refrigerator or freezer?
We recommend that you NEVER store dark chocolate in a freezer.
Other ways to enjoy cacao powder
Apparently some people in Europe have started snorting cacao powder at dance parties. The writer of this answer has tried that, twice, and decided that he vastly prefers to consume cacao the old-fashioned way–by eating or drinking it. It’s tastier that way, and less messy.
How do you recommend I enjoy my bar of To'ak chocolate?
Check out our tasting guide and list of chocolate pairing recommendations here.
What are your social and environmental commitments?
We're doing our best to contribute to positive change in the world of chocolate. This is a summary of our efforts. We discuss how we are paying the highest prices to farmers in the industry, going beyond certifications, building a technology platform for traceability of cacao, up-cycling byproducts, and protecting endangered varieties of cacao.