Vegan Chocolate Challenges Solved In South Florida

Finding tasty vegan chocolate in South Florida can be hard. But with a little reading through this blog you can find out my three favorite single-origin vegan craft chocolate makers. They all support and work directly with cacao farmers by paying Fair Trade prices. They also all support the environment by only buying from small cacao growers. 

Cao Chocolate Truffle, Coa Chocolates, Miami, Fla.
Copyright 2017 by Helen A Lockey

My three favorites are: Miami-based  Cao Chocolates, Stuart-based Castronovo Chocolates and Ecuador-based Pacari Chocolates.

Ricardo Trillos, owner and chocolate maker of Cao Chocolates,
Miami, Fla.
Copyright 2018 by Helen A Lockey

Cao Chocolates, established in 2009, became Miami-Dade County's first bean-to-bar craft chocolate maker in the county. Venezuelan born Ricardo Trillos and his wife Anelith, started their venture as a hobby and soon transformed it into a company. They are passionate about their chocolate and their process of sourcing beans to make single-origin vegan chocolate bars (chocolate made with just one type of bean).

Their chocolate bars are certified Vegan, Kosher Parve, and Fair for Life. Their bars are 100 percent gluten-free and contain no soy, no dairy, no nuts, and no wheat. 

They know how to bring huge flavors out in their single origin bars.

You can find their bars and other chocolate items online at http://www.caochocolates.com

Or you can visit their storefront at: 9800 SW 77th Av Miami FL 33156 (near Pinecrest). 

They are open Mon.-Fri. from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sat. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Their phone number is (305) 879-0281

Their bars sell online for $8.

You can also find Cao Chocolates on Instagram, FaceBook, and Twitter. 

Amazonas Rare Cacao Collection chocolate from Castronovo Chocolates, Stuart, Fla.
Copyright 2018 by Helen a Lockey

My next favorite is Castronovo Chocolates , established in 2013, by Denise and Jim Castronovo. They became Martin County's first bean-to-bar craft chocolate maker. Their dark chocolate is made without dairy and sweetened with organic, kosher parve sugar. 

They have won multiple awards for their chocolate in both the United States and Internationally in London. 

Denis Castronovo, owner and chocolate maker of Castronovo
Chocolates, Stuart, Fla.
Copyright 2018 by Helen A Lockey

They also craft milk chocolates but are very careful about keeping their two styles separate. "We have a lot of customers that are sensitive to dairy so we make sure our equipment is very clean, says denis Castronovo.

Their single-origins dark chocolates bring the best of the bean out to your taste buds.

All of Castronovo Chocolates are also Nut-Free and Soy-Free.

You can buy their bars online at : http://www.castronovochocolate.com

Or you can go to their storefront location at: 555 Colorado Avenue in Stuart, FL 34994

They are open Mon.-Fri. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sat. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Their phone number is (561) 512-7236

In their store the dark chocolate single-origin bars start at $9. Online their bars range in price from $10 to $14 plus shipping. But if you buy over $75 worth of products shipping is free in The United States

You can also find Castronovo Chocolates on FaceBook, and Twitter.

Pacari Organic Chocolate, Ft. Lauderdale Vegan Festival,
Copyright 2017 by Helen a Lockey

Pacari Chocolate is my next favorite even though they are not based in South Florida. Instead they are an Ecuadorian based organic single origin bean-to-bar craft chocolate company that was established in 2002. But even though they are not based here their chocolates can still be tasted and bought at many chocolate and vegan festivals in South Florida.

Their bars have won numerous chocolate awards here in the United States.

Pacari prides themselves in having their chocolate making factories within a few miles of their source farms in Ecuador. They also love educating their farmer friends in ways to improve their organic processes to improve the flavor of their Arriba Nacional cacao beans (the only bean Pacari uses).

Their bars are certified USDA organic, Kosher Parve, RAW Cacao, Deneter (biodynamic) and Vegan. Their bars are also Soy-Free, Dairy-Free, and Gluten-Free.

You can buy their bars online at https://pacarichocolate.us

Pacari also produces Raw-Vegan chocolate bars. 

Their online chocolate price ranges from $6.20-$15.00 a bar.

You can also find their bars at select Whole Foods Markets.

You can also find Pacari Chocolate on Instagram, Pinterest,  and Facebook (in Spanish).