007: Vegan Valentines: Crafting Ethical Artisan Chocolates from Bean to Bar with Daniel Korson

Essential Ingredients Podcast

“My goal and still is, is to be able to create a business that's ethical from the farm to the end.” —Daniel Korson

The emerging category of ethical vegan chocolate appeals to health-conscious consumers who demand transparency and sustainability in their treats. As demand grows for plant-based options produced with care and compassion, vegan chocolate represents an opportunity for small businesses to delight taste buds while upholding values from bean to bar.

On this special Valentine's Day episode, Justine sits down with chocolatier Daniel Korson. Daniel is the Founder and President of Coracao Chocolate, an organic and fair-trade chocolate company based in California. After developing digestive issues as a teenager, Daniel was inspired to create clean, allergen-free treats and has grown Coracao into an award-winning brand known for innovative flavors and sustainable practices.

Listen in as Justine and Daniel walk us through the process of crafting decadent treats, scaling production and ingredients, employing innovative practices like employee ownership programs and sustainable packaging, tempering chocolate, and maintaining high standards for organic ingredients and sustainability in the business.

Meet Daniel:

Daniel Korson is the founder and owner of Coracao Chocolate, an organic and fair-trade chocolate company based in Berkeley, California. With over 15 years of experience in the specialty food industry, Daniel pioneered the category of clean, allergen-free chocolate.

Prior to launching Coracao, Daniel worked as a pastry chef where he began experimenting with raw cacao ingredients. This sparked the idea to recreate nostalgic childhood treats that he could enjoy despite developing digestive sensitivities. Under Daniel's leadership, Coracao has grown into an award-winning brand distributed nationwide, known for unique fillings and a commitment to ethical sourcing from farm to factory.

When he isn't developing new chocolate recipes or running the day-to-day operations, Daniel enjoys educating consumers and the trade about bean-to-bar production techniques. He also advocates for sustainability initiatives in packaging and farming practices. Daniel continues advancing Coracao's mission to spread health and joy through thoughtfully crafted confections.

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Episode Highlights:

03:15 Tempering Chocolate

08:17 How Employee Ownership Works

12:17 Sourcing Quality Ingredients

17:37 Ethical From Farm to End