Q: What should I do if one of more of the items I ordered was missing when it was delivered?

First of all, we apologize if this happens . This is a problem, and we’re going to fix it. Please contact us via one of the following channels: Phone,SMS, WhatsApp : +1 (805) 600-8625 Phone (Ecuador) : +593 23227520 Email : hello@toakchocolate.com Include your name, phone number, order confirmation number. It is important that you also attach a photo of the package and its contents so that we can learn what went wrong. We will then contact you directly to advise a resolution. Please note we offer complimentary worldwide shipping insurance for lost, stolen or damaged orders. To learn more and file a claim click here . More Questions? Use a keyword or phrase in the search box above or contact us via phone, SMS, WhatsApp, email or social and we are happy to help.

Q: Do you have a media kit? Can I request samples or an interview?

Media Kit and Press Releases Yes, we have a media kit with high resolution photos, press releases, and other product related information. Please submit some basic information here to receive the access details. Request access to To'ak Chocolate Media Kit Request an Interview We would be pleased to provide a phone or video interview for your article/publication. Please request an interview and we will get in touch shortly. Request an Interview Do you Provide Samples to the Media? Sometimes we do, yes. Please contact us through one of the forms above and let us know who you write for, what type of story you’re working on, and how we can help you.

Question 1

What should I do if one of more of the items I ordered was missing when it was delivered?

Accepted Answer

First of all, we apologize if this happens. This is a problem, and we’re going to fix it. Please contact us via one of the following channels:

Phone,SMS, WhatsApp: +1 (805) 600-8625

Phone (Ecuador): +593 23227520

Email: hello@toakchocolate.com

Include your name, phone number, order confirmation number. It is important that you also attach a photo of the package and its contents so that we can learn what went wrong. We will then contact you directly to advise a resolution.

Please note we offer complimentary worldwide shipping insurance for lost, stolen or damaged orders. To learn more and file a claim click here.

The short answer is no, but we produce in a factory that also handles some allergens

Our chocolate is produced at a factory that also handles nuts, peanuts, soy, and milk, but we do not intentionally add any of these ingredients to our chocolate.

The equipment we use is thoroughly cleaned between production batches and therefore it is unlikely that there are nut, soy or milk traces in our chocolate, however if you or the person you are thinking to purchase for has a severe allergy, it may not be worth the risk.

The short answer is no, but ...

We do not add alcohol to any of our products. Some of our Aged editions have been aged in empty casks or barrels that previously stored alcohol. In this case, aroma compounds from the cask/barrel impregnate the chocolate and impart different aromas. We have conducted laboratory testing and the lab was unable to detect any ethanol/alcohol (i.e. the reading was below their minimum threshold). Although it is unlikely, it is possible that trace amounts of alcohol could enter the chocolate.

The short answer is that in almost all cases our chocolate only contains two ingredients

The complete and accurate ingredient list of each product is available on the product page of our website and on the package of each product. The only ingredients in nearly all of our products are organic cacao beans and organic cane sugar.

The exceptions to our "two ingredient" bars are:

El Niño Harvest 2016 100% Cacao contains only one ingredient (organic cacao)
T.cacao Everyday 100% Cacao Powder contains only one ingredient (organic cacao)
Galapagos Harvest 2018 contains three ingredients (cacao, cane sugar, and cacao butter — pressed from the same beans)

The difference in brief

Our Harvest editions are harvested from a specific appellation during a specific year (similar to wine), with the objective to highlight the unique flavor and aroma characteristics that are created by the unique soil and climate conditions of that particular harvest (i.e., “terroir”).

Our Aged editions are Harvest editions that have been aged in some kind of aromatic vessel (eg, casks that formerly stored wine or spirits, or Ecuadorian wood vessels) or have been aged in the same container as some other aromatic material (eg, Kampot pepper or Palo Santo wood).

A little more detail on the differences

Our Harvest editions express the unique climatic and growing conditions of each particular harvest year. It's quite amazing to taste totally different chocolate made from cacao that is harvested from exactly the same trees each year. What we can taste are the unique changes in sunshine, rainfall, and factors such as soil nutrients that evolve over time. In the world of wine this is referred to as terroir. We consider our Harvest editions to be terroir-driven expressions of dark chocolate.

Our Aged editions, make up our most innovative collection, where we attempt to push the boundaries of what is possible with chocolate flavor development. The concept was born out of our admiration for whisky and wine production techniques. Approximately 70% of the aroma and flavour in a whisky comes from the cask that it is aged in. Our Aged editions demonstrate the flavour progression of chocolate over time and how this can be enhanced with extractable aromas from barrels and other mediums. We developed this technique with some assistance from the oenology team at Washington State University. Their team predict that we can age our chocolate (thanks to the antioxidants, tanins and lack of perishable ingredients) for upwards of 20 years. You can read more on this blog article about our aging program.

Review our FAQ on How and why do you age your chocolate?

In summary, the main differences are as follows. Our Harvest editions are bold, terrior-driven, expressions of the valley where we harvest our cacao and they are emblematic of the very special Ecuadorian Nacional cacao variety. They are typically highly complex in aroma and flavour.

What to avoid

Definitely do not store dark chocolate in a freezer. And a refrigerator should only be used as a last resort—for example, if you live in a hot place and don’t have air conditioning.

Options for hot climate

If you live in a hot place and don’t have air conditioning, you can store your chocolate in a refrigerator or a wine cooler; in this case, we advise you to first put the package of chocolate inside a ziplock bag, to protect it from moisture.

General advice

If you live in a home where the indoor temperature doesn’t exceed 24° C (75° F), the best thing to do is simply store your chocolate at room temperature, in a dry place that is protected from sunlight and other strong odors. For example, in a cupboard.

Dark chocolate likes to be stored within the temperature range of 12-22° C (53-72° F), and temperatures as high as 25° C (77° F) are usually fine. The official melting point of dark chocolate is around 30° C (86° F).

We have also had success storing our bars in a wine cooler that has an option to reduce humidity/moisture. Generally speaking, most solutions that are suitable for storage of a fine wine will also be suitable for fine chocolate.

Perhaps the question is how long you can wait?

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. We have chocolate bars that have been stored in our office for us to six years, that are still in excellent condition. But we don’t recommend waiting that long to eat your chocolate.

Read about our storage recommendations.

Beautiful cacao inspired wrapping paper

Yes! We offer gift wrapping and we can also include a message on a hand written card. You will find the option as a check-box on the product page. You can also leave a note in the special instructions field in your shopping cart.

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The Chocolate & Art Experience

Includes

One-hour privately-guided art tour of the former residence of Oswaldo Guayasamín, Ecuador's most renowned modern artist
One-hour privately-guided To'ak chocolate tasting in Guayasamín's wine cellar (off limits to the general public)
Optional pairing of chocolate with whisky or alternative spirit plus bottled water
Access to the Capilla del Hombre art gallery (non-guided)
Special tour-only pricing on To'ak Chocolate products

Art: Guests are welcomed to the former residence of Oswaldo Guayasamín through a private entrance, not accessible to the general public. The first half of the two-hour privately guided tour will start with a walk through the former residence of Guayasamín where a guide will share Guayasamín's passion for art and culture and explain the most significant pieces of his private art collection. Guests will visit Guayasamín's most intimate chambers including his bedroom and workshop.

Chocolate: The second half of the tour will take place in Guayasamín's wine cellar, where he entertained notable guests and his closest friends. An intimate setting around a table. In front of each person is a tasting plate with a raw cacao bean and samples of at least four different editions of To’ak chocolate. Akin to a wine tasting, a member of To’ak’s production team guides everyone through a comprehensive tasting and pairing experience, with a focus on Ecuador’s famous Nacional cacao variety. Cacao genetics, terroir, fermentation methods, barrel-aging, and other production decisions are all explained in the context of how these variables influence the aroma and flavor profile of each

How to book: Visit https://toakchocolate.com/tour to book online.

Availability: Tuesday to Friday (except Ecuadorian national holidays) from 10am to 5pm or outside these hours by special appointment.

Additional information about the Chocolate & Art Experience

Is booking required in advance?

What days and times is it available?

Is the tour private?

Is transport included in the tour?

Can our tour guide participate?

What languages can the tour be offered in?

Should we bring anything with us?

Is the chocolate and/or the art available for purchase during the event?

Where is the entrance to the tour?

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What instructions should I give to my taxi/Uber driver?

A Private Tasting?

We are available to offer you a private tasting in your hotel, function center or at your home.

A guided dark chocolate tasting is a sensory exploration of terroir, varietal, origin, and craftsmanship on the same level of sophistication associated with wine and whisky tasting. As an additional option, pairing dark chocolate with certain wines and spirits offers yet another level of pleasure and complexity to the experience.

How does this look in practice? An intimate setting around a table. In front of each person is a tasting plate with a raw cacao bean and samples of at least five different editions of To’ak chocolate. Each person is also served a flight of dessert wine and spirits, if this option is selected. Akin to a wine tasting, a member of To’ak’s production team guides everyone through a comprehensive tasting and pairing experience, with a focus on Ecuador’s famous Nacional cacao variety. Cacao genetics, terroir, fermentation methods, barrel-aging, and other production decisions are all explained in the context of how these variables influence the aroma and flavor profile of each expression of chocolate. Comparable to a course in Wine 101, but with the most luxurious and elaborate dark chocolate on the planet.

What should I do if one of more of the items I ordered was missing when it was delivered?

Does your chocolate contain nuts or other allergens?

Does your chocolate contain alcohol?

What ingredients are in your chocolate?

What is the difference between Harvest editions and Aged editions?

How should I store my chocolate?

Does your chocolate have an expiration date?

Do you offer gift wrapping?

Do you have a media kit? Can I request samples or an interview?

Do you offer tastings or tours in Ecuador?