Seed and Bean is building a well-deserved reputation for producing bold, unusually flavoured, high-quality chocolate which is also organic, Fairtrade and ethically produced. And it is doing it in Corby, a town not associated with artisan chocolate making – until now.

This producer’s aim is to create an ethical range of organic chocolate using small-scale cocoa bean suppliers and being brave with flavours. There are currently 18 different bars, including Cornish Sea Salt, Coconut and Rasberry, Salted Caramel and the award-winning Lavender. Only real fruit is used, never artificial flavours, so you are guaranteed natural and authentic tastes including mandarin, orange, raspberry, lemon and ginger.

Not only are the flavours interesting, tasty and intense, but the chocolate is also high quality and expertly made. Cocoa beans are bought from individual growers in either the Sao Tome Islands off West Africa, Ecuador or the Dominican Republic. The beans are shipped to France where they are made into couverture, which is then sent to Corby to be made into chocolate bars. The chocolate is made in batches of 45 litres – this may sound a lot but is minimal compared to the 10,000-litre batches that industrial manufacturers make.

Whether your preference is for the adventurous Dark Lemon and Cardamon with its hint of citrus and spice, or for the smooth, rich Plant-based Coffee ‘Milk’ with its coffee kick, Seed and Bean chocolate bars are a pleasure to eat. Find the range in delis and farm shops around the country as well as Planet Organic, and larger branches of Waitrose and Ocado.

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