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'''There are Madagascar is not widely known for making chocolate, at least not like the chocolate nations of Switzerland and Belgium. But as most chocolate experts agree, Madagascar is a high quality cocoa producing nation boasting two major bean-to-bar chocolate manufacturers in Madagascarfactories, [[Chocolaterie Robert]] making especially dark and above all delicious chocolates from naturally organic cacao grown in the northwest [[CinagraAmbanja]]. Both companies produce premium quality chocolate made with cocoa grown exclusively in Madagascarregion of the country.'''
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Madagascar has in fact a long history of chocolate production, dating back to the French colonial times, 1937 to be precise. In those days, Madagascar was a major cocoa exporter in supplying a metropolitan France. Today Madagascar's cocoa production is tiny in comparison to for example Ivory Coast, which produces about 38% of the world's cocoa. Almost all cacao grown in Madagascar come from an area about 50 kilometres in radius and represents less than 1% of the world's cocoa production. The cacao plantations can be found in the [[File:Cinagra 013Sambirano]] region within the Ambanja district.jpg|thumb|600px|none|Cinagra Tsar Noir 100%The area is named after the Sambirano River which runs from the foothills of Madagascar's highest peak [[Maromokotro]]through the Sambirano Valley and the countryside and eventually into the Indian Ocean. Due to natural sesonal flooding of the river, the soil along the Sambirano riverbed and its surrounding cacao plantations are highly enriched with minerals and nutrients. Unlike cacao producing regions in other countries, the Sambirano region is unique in that it yields cacao all year round. There are plenty of Criollo (the highest quality cacao beans), Forastero (the most commonly found variety) and Trinitario (a cross between Criollo and Forastero).
[[File:Madecasse_0001Cinagra 013.jpg|thumb|600px|none|Madécasse Cinagra Tsar Noir 100%]] {|style="width:608px;border-collapse:collapse;border:0px solid green;padding:0px;"|-|style="padding:0px;"|[[File:Chocolaterie Robert 023.jpg|292px|thumb|none|Chocolaterie Robert's headquarter and factory in Antananarivo]]|style="padding:0px;"|[[File:Chocolaterie Robert 044.jpg|292px|thumb|none|Chocolaterie Robert's 61% cocoa, kaffir lime and Fleur de Sel bar and the 68% cocoa bar with cocoa nibs]]|-|style="padding:0px;"|[[File:Cinagra 038.jpg|292px|thumb|none|Malagasy workers at the Cinagra factory packaging fine chocolate bars by hand]]|style="padding:0px;"|[[File:Cinagra 073.jpg|292px|thumb|none|Cinagra's 72% cocoa Tsar bar with 70roasted cocoa nibs and its 44% cocoavariety with natural vanilla]]|}
[[File:Madanga 05Chocolaterie Colbert 01.jpg|600px|thumb|600px|none|[[MadangaChocolaterie Colbert's dedicated team of chocolatiers proudly presenting their freshly made pralines]] bar Madagascar is not a highly industrialised nation by Rausch any measure, including its farming methods. Malagasy cacao therefore remains relatively short in supply. Perhaps this is why Madagascar's chocolate brands are not easily found in stores outside Madagascar. In fact, at the time of writing, chocolate brands made as well as sold in Madagascar are available only in Germanya few select stores in France, South Africa and Japan.]]A tip for anyone visiting the large island: Bring as many of Robert's, Cinagra's and Colbert's bars and pralines as possible back home, as you will not likely find as high quality chocolate at as reasonable prices elsewhere in the world!
== Additional information ==
Visit the individual pages about the three Madagascar chocolate makers: * http://www.thenibble.com/reviews/MAIN/[[Chocolaterie Robert]]* [[Cinagra|Chocolaterie Cinagra]]* [[Chocolaterie Colbert]] If you can't buy chocolate in Madagascar, various chocolate makers in other countries offer [[Chocolate makers using Madagascar cocoa|Madagascar cocoa based chocolate/lindt-excellence]], either made from bean to bar or from pre-crushed cocoa exported from Madagascar. However, such brands are mostly available in specialised gourmet chocolatestores, usually at relatively high prices.asp* http://www.brandchannel.com/features_profile.asp?pr_id== External link ==481 * http://www.bbcmadagascar-tribune.co.ukcom/news/healthKKO-International-met-le-cap-10986625sur,22293.html