45,850
edits
Changes
no edit summary
'''Madagascar is not widely known for their its chocolate production, at least not in comparison to Switzerland or Belgium. But as experts know, Madagascar is a high quality cocoa producing nation which has with two major bean-to-bar chocolate factories making premium quality chocolate using with high quality cocoa from that grow exclusively in the Ambanja region in the northwest of the country.'''
{| class="imageTable"
In fact, Madagascar has a long history of chocolate
production, dating back to the early years of
the French colonisationcolonial times, 1937 to be precise. In those dayswhen to a metropolitan France, Madagascar was considered a major
cocoa exporter. Today Madagascar's cocoa production is
tiny in comparison to the Ivory Coast which produce
about 3?38% of the world 's cocoa , while almost all cocoa grown
in Madagascar come from an area about 50-kilometre in radius
and which represents represent less than one percent of the world's cocoa production. The area is [[Sambirano]], which is also the name of a river sourced
in the foothills of Madagascar's highest peak. The Sambirano riverbed
and its surrounding cocoa plantations are enriched with nutrients inthe soil by its yearly floods. Unlike many other nations cocoa producingnations the regions, this area is unique in that it yields cocoa crop all year round.
There is plenty of Criollo (the finest), Forastero (the most common
used for bulk cocoa) and Trinitario (a cross between the two).
Most if not all cocoa plantations in Madagascar are run operated by smallindependent family -run farming businesses , who have been growing cocoa ina very their natural environment for generations the , without use of fertilisersand other mass farming techniques. Slave labour which which
is commonly reported in the cocoa industry, especially in the Ivory Coast,
but is non-existent in Madagascar. Most Much of Sambirano's cocoa in Madagascar grow on former fruit plantations that
were in use during the French colonial period.
The result is resulting crop has a unique and fruity flavour that that is
naturally sweet and especially suitable for producing non-bitter dark
chocolate without having to use excessive sugar contentand unatural flavoring agents. The final product is generally rich inantioxidant flavoinoids, the healthy ingredientsfound in high proportions in pure Malagasy cocoa.
[[File:Cinagra 013.jpg|thumb|600px|none|Cinagra Tsar Noir 100%]].
[[Chocolaterie Robert ]] and [[Cinagra ]] are the only two bean-to-bar chocolate
producers in Madagascar. Their chocolate is of single Malagasy origin, meaning
they grow their cocoa and produce their finished chocolates in Madagascar.
Chocolaterie Robert dates back to 1937, when a French couple,
The second largest and more recently established Malagasy chocolate maker, Cinagra,
has been making chocolate at their [[Antananarivo ]] based factory since 2006,
also using single origin cocoa grown in the Sambirano region.
In 2009 their 63% cocoa based Tsar bar won first price at
the [http://www.salon-du-chocolat.com Salon de Chocolat Paris ] in France andsince 2008, Cinagra is producing the chocolate for Madecasse,
a brand which is exported and sold primarily in the US and Canada.
A third, tiny but nonetheless noteworthy Malagasy chocolate maker is
[[Chocolaterie Colbert]]. Although they do not grow their own cocoa and can
therefore not be classified a bean-to-bar producer,
their recipes are their own and since
they buy the raw ingredients from both Chocolaterie Robertand Cinagra, their products are also of single Madagascar Malagasy origin.
Colbert's highly priced range of handmade pralines and chocolate bars
can be found only at the Patisserie Colbert in [[Pâtisserie Colber]] tin Antananarivo. Colbert'schocolate made by small team of talented chocolatiers and is always freshat the counter. Their and their gift-wrapped chocolate creations make
ideal presents for special occasions.
[[File:Chocolaterie Colbert 01.jpg|600px|thumb|none|The [[Chocolaterie Colbert]] team]]
else in the world!
<!--
Furthermore, [[Madécasse]] is a chocolate brand produced and packaged in Madagascar by [[Cinagra]] for export to the US and Canada.