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[[File:Cinagra 070.jpg|thumb|600px|none|Crushed Malagasy cocoa with splinters of cocoa nibs ready for processing into liquid chocolate]]
Most if not all cacao plantations in Madagascar are small farms run by families who have been growing cacao in their natural environment without use of fertilisers and mass farming methods for generations. While slave labour is commonly reported in the cacao industry, especially in Ivory Coast, it is non-existing in Madagascar. Much of Sambirano's cacao trees stand on former fruit plantations dating back to the French colonial times. The resulting cocoa has hints of citrus fruit and is naturally sweet, which makes Madagascan cocoa especially suitable for producing non-bitter dark chocolates chocolate without use of excessive sugar content or other additives. Furthermore, the final Madagascar chocolate product is usually rich in antioxidant flavoinoids as well as other healthy and reputedly aphrodisiac ingredients found in high proportions in pure Malagasy cacao. <!--(phenylethylamine??)-->
[[Chocolaterie Robert]] and [[Cinagra]] are the only two bean-to-bar chocolate producers in Madagascar. Their chocolates are of single origin, using cacao grown in Madagascar with their products made and packaged entirely in Madagascar.
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The more recently established Chocolaterie Cinagra has been making chocolate at their [[Antananarivo]] based factory since 2006, also using single origin cacao grown on plantations within the Sambirano region. In 2009 their 63% cocoa based ''Tsar'' bar won the first price at the [http://www.salon-du-chocolat.com Salon de Chocolat Paris] in France. Since 2008, Cinagra produces chocolate for [[Madécasse]] - a US importer and brand, sold primarily in the US and Canadaas well as Germany.
A third, smaller but nonetheless appreciated Madagascar chocolate brand is [[Chocolaterie Colbert]]. Although they do not buy and process cacao beans directly from farmers and can therefore not be classified a bean-to-bar producer, Colbert's recipes are their own and since they do buy processed cocoa from both Chocolaterie Robert and Cinagra, their final products are of single Malagasy origin. Colbert's highly priced range of pralines and chocolate bars is sold only at the [[Pâtisserie Colbert]] in Antananarivo, part of [[Hotel Colbert]]. Their bars and pralines, handmade and gift-wrapped by a small team of talented chocolatiers, are always fresh at the counter and make ideal presents for special occasions.<br clear="all">
[[File:Chocolaterie Colbert 01.jpg|600px|thumb|none|Chocolaterie Colbert's dedicated team of chocolatiers proudly presenting their freshly made pralines]]
Madagascar is not a highly industrialised nation by any measure, including its farming methods. Malagasy cacao therefore remains relatively short in supply. Perhaps this is why Madagascar chocolates are not easily found in stores outside Madagascar. In fact, at the time of writing, chocolate made as well as sold in Madagascar is available only available in a 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 similar prices elsewhere in the world!
== Additional information ==