Let's create a sweeter future and take the guess work out of chocolate! Therefore, we decided to take a new step in chocolate production and have become a chocolate-maker as well as being a chocolatier in order to produce chocolate from the bean to the bar right here in Sherwood Park, AB.
Chocolate Maker vs. Chocolatier
The Chocolatier is essentially the dressmaker, purchasing chocolate made by the Chocolate Maker, and using their technical skills to blend, temper and complete the process to create the final bonbon (truffle) or chocolate bar.
What Is Bean To Bar
In 2015, we focused on how our team could work to a new level of fulfilling our core purpose to bring joy, and thought that a bean-to-bar line would help us achieve our goals. The goal is to meet cacao farmers who we are sourcing from for our chocolate. This is made possible by working with a transparent intermediary (Uncommon Cacao) to purchase cacao ethically, especially in regions of conflict like Colombia. The first four origins that we are working with are Costa Rica (working with Nahua Cacao), Colombia, Peru and the Dominican Republic. Each origin has distinct flavours and characteristics. Want to learn more, check out our self-guided tasting!
In March 2016, Jacqueline went to Costa Rica to learn more about the farms and cacao there. In May 2018, we went to visit the farms we are buying from in the Dominican Republic. In 2019, Jacqueline visited Colombia to learn more about Colombian cacao, and how cacao is having a positive impact on the lives of farmers.
Unfortunately, the trip to Peru in 2020 to meet the farmers in the Marañón canyon was cancelled due to travel restrictions imposed by COVID-19, but this trip will be rescheduled once travel opens up again (and we can’t wait!).
Chocolate ethically sourced
JACEK will continue to source chocolate from expert Chocolate Makers in France (Valrhona) for their artisan truffle collections, as they are also committed to ethical practices. Being both bean-to-bar & working with other chocolate makers will allow us to diversify how we source our chocolate (but all ethically of course!), and to create interesting & delicious new products for our guests to enjoy.
Interested to know which JACEK products are made from our in-house bean-to-bar line? The products made from this very special line are marked with this logo.
Award-winning chocolate
70% Colombia
Bronze Medal winner of the International Chocolate Awards (the Worlds) 2023
Bronze Medal winner of the International Chocolate Awards (the Americas) 2023
Gold Medal winner of the International Chocolate Awards’ (the Worlds) 2019
Silver Medal winner of the International Chocolate Awards 2018
Whisky Bar
Silver Medal winner of the International Chocolate Awards (the Americas) 2023
70% Dominican Republic
Silver Medal winner of the International Chocolate Awards (the Americas)
Bronze Medal winner of the 2018 Academy of Chocolate Awards in the category “Bean to bar (under 80% cocoa solids)”.
90% Dominican Republic
Bronze Medal winner of the Academy of Chocolate Awards 2018 in the category “Bean to bar (80% and above cocoa solids)”
Bronze Medal winner of the International Chocolate Awards 2018 in the category “High % dark plain/origin chocolate bars (85% and over)”.
70% Costa Rica
Silver Medal winner of the International Chocolate Awards 2018 in the category “Plain/origin dark chocolate bars”.
To see all awards and recognitions please visit our about page here