Equal Exchange's chocolate chips are made from only organic cacao from Peru and organic sugar from Paraguay, both grown by small farmer co-ops. They’re manufactured in an allergen-free facility right in Peru. That means a greater percentage of the purchase price stays in the origin country, strengthening the local economy. After visiting the communities of Shepte and Dos de Mayo in the Amazon basin in 2018 and 2019, Equal Exchange arranged with the larger ACOPAGRO cooperative to use cacao from those two origins in our chocolate chips. This direct relationship was initiated by the bonds formed during our visit and continues to motivate the coalition to communicate directly, have more transparency, and even allows the communities to invest the fair trade premiums from these sales directly into their specific needs through local democratic decision making.

Cacao offers a rich supply of antioxidants, minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc, and unique compounds that have been shown to boost energy levels and feel-good brain neurotransmitters. Our low-temperature processing methods ensure that each nib retains the original nutrition found within the whole bean.