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Aequare (Ay-Kwar-Ay) Fine Chocolates was established with the goal of producing world-class chocolate confections in a country known as the home of some of the finest cocoa beans in the world and a mission to support Ecuadorian businesses and farmers and keep as much of the value-add from Aequare's export products in Ecuador.
Sourcing and Sustainability
To achieve its mission, Aequare sources virtually all of its ingredients and raw and finished materials from Ecuadorian suppliers – from ingredients to packaging. The only exceptions we make are when an item or ingredient Aequare needs, such as vanilla beans, is not grown or produced in Ecuador.
Aequare is committed to ethical sourcing practices and we have developed personal relationships with many of our suppliers so that we can gain first-hand experience with their growing and manufacturing processes. This process is called “Direct Trade.” We work with local businesses, farmers, dairy producers, and other suppliers, seeking out organic products where available. All our products are free of preservatives and artificial flavors.
Packaging
We make every attempt to use packaging based on recycled paper and post-consumer waste, based on availability in Ecuador. We use soy-based inks whenever possible.
After savoring our chocolates, we suggest you recycle the interior trays and boxes.
The Chocolate
Aequare crafts the finest single origin filled confections with the highest quality Ecuadorian Arriba chocolate. Aequare’s single origin Arriba chocolate is sourced from Ecuador’s Los Rios province. Rooted with a deep sense of cultural history, cacao has been grown in this region for over two centuries. It is considered by connoisseurs to be among the finest and rarest in the world.
The cacao is made into chocolate locally, then delicately hand-crafted in small batches into the finest chocolate products in Quito, Ecuador. We use this single origin chocolate in all our products.
Why is Ecuador's chocolate superior? Ecuador is the world's largest producer of fine grade cocoa. About 95% of the world's cocoa production is bulk, used by the world's large chocolate producers such as Mars, Hersheys, Cadbury, and Nestlé. The remaining 5% goes into higher quality couvertures and fine grade chocolates. Ecuador produces approximately half of the world's fine grade cocoa! We use only chocolate that comes from this higher quality cocoa, giving our products a unique flavor profile unequaled in your average chocolate confection or bar.
Consistent with its commitment to ethical sourcing and “Direct Trade,” though Aequare Fine Chocolates does not grow, harvest, or process cocoa beans or make chocolate, it has developed very close relationships with the growers of the beans it uses for its chocolate, the company that manufactures the chocolate, and other growers and suppliers.
We use only pure, natural flavors in our chocolates-coffee from the Ecuadorian highlands, fresh zest from locally grown oranges and lemons, Ishpingo and other flavors from the Amazon. We use local honey, tahitian vanilla beans and a variety of nuts and dried fruits sourced locally and regionally.
Aequare combines the highest quality ingredients, pure fruit purees, and artisanal techniques, creating exceptional single origin chocolates. For the finest origin chocolate products, Aequare.
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