RACO; BRINGING THE PREMIUM EXPERIENCE TO US ALL

1. Five words that best describe your brand?

Fun. Transparent. Innovative. Tasty. Different.

 

2. What is Raco's Story?

I was searching for jobs - I graduated in 2020 when covid hit. The job market was awful and I had sooo much time on my hands, which translated to a lot of time spent in the kitchen because I enjoy making my own food. There was a serious lack of genuinely good - and by good, I mean gourmet, fresh - chocolate. That's when I wondered: how hard can it be to make chocolate? 

Answer: it's HARD. But I took it as a challenge, and one thing led to another and here we are, 2 years after I asked that question. I couldn't have set it up without the support of my family and close friends. 

 

3. One reason why your clients will come back for more?

Uhh, I hope it's because they like it! Or because they want to try the new flavor of the month. And because we listen to their feedback ☺️ 

 

4. What sets you apart from your competitors?

Usually what most chocolate companies do is buy pre-made chocolate in bulk from big companies, like Callebaut. These big companies aim to make consistent tasting, nameless chocolate from cocoa beans that are not necessarily great in quality. But bean to bar chocolate is so much more than that. It's all about embracing that well-grown cocoa beans are diverse, they all taste different and when you stick to just two ingredients (like in our 70% dark chocolate bar) you can really feel it. 

5. Where do you source your cocoa beans from?

We're pretty transparent about where the cocoa beans come from! You can scroll through Instagram to see the lovely cooperatives all over the world that we chose to get them from ☺️ They all prioritize quality, sustainability, and their farmers well being. 

 

6. How long does the process take to create one chocolate bar? Walk us through the process.

It can take a little more than a day. First, you sort the beans, then they go in a roaster (achieving a good roast is key for flavor). There are machines to remove the husk so you get the cocoa nibs that eventually find their way into a special grinding machine, which grinds them for at least a day. The liquid chocolate now has to be tempered and molded into bars and it's basically ready! 

7. What flavors does Raco offer?

Our original flavors are 70% dark chocolate from two different origins (Tanzania and Dominican Republic), and 45% milk using the Tanzanian beans. Then we have limited editions with additions that keep changing – past ones include a coffee flavor, a doodhpatti inspired bar, and currently a personal favorite of mine because it's quite unusual: toasted cinnamon. I like to do flavors that you wouldn't find commonly that is also tied to what is locally available. 

 

8. What's unique about Raco that you want your customers to experience? 

Good, craft chocolate doesn't have to come out of a store in Europe. Cocoa beans are only grown along the equator! I also want my customers to experience that cocoa beans are like coffee or fruits with their full-bodied flavor and natural undertones. 

 

9. What should we expect from Raco?

Creativity ????