Bolivia 72% Dark

The Bolivian culture carries a deep reverence for weaving, an art-form shaped so profoundly by the richness and diversity of its tradition and passed from the hands of one generation to the next.

The presence of the creator’s hand can be found in every part of the weaving process—each phase is exquisite and laborious in its own way, as fibers are gathered, spun, dyed, woven, and formed into sensuous aesthetic textiles.

In the communities that extend along the Bolivian Andes, weaving begins with the shearing of sheep, llamas, or alpacas for their wool. It then goes to the phari stage, an initial spinning process during which the sheared wool is spun into yarn. The spun yarn is treated to a highly-elaborate dyeing technique—the dyes used are those of the natural world, derived from flowers, leaves, tree-bark, insects, even mud and macerated fruit, with the master-weaver using the utmost care to extract pigments that will render the colors needed for a textile’s design.

After dyeing, the master-weaver moves to the k’anti stage, a second round of spinning that creates a finer, more uniform yarn. The intricate k’uychi, or ‘rainbow’ stage follows, during which the master-weaver combines variously-colored yarns to form patterns on the loom. Finally, there’s the process of awakipa, meaning ‘eye-border,’ a finishing technique applied to the edges of the woven textile.

Weaving can be seen as a metaphor for storytelling, a textile’s interlacing threads representing the divine connectedness of all living things and the flow of time we together move within.

In the Alto Beni region of Bolivia, a project has been formed dedicated to the protection and continued propagation of the region’s fine flavor cacao, with intentions of preserving it for future generations. At Bar au Chocolat, every facet of our chocolatemaking is fueled by deep-seated curiosity, artistry, and passion; it is our great honor to work with this Bolivian-designated heirloom, transforming it into this 72% dark chocolate that we share with you. The savoring of chocolate is a moment woven through time . . . As this bar passes from our hands to yours, we invite you to reflect upon all the stories it holds—of creation and re-birth, of connection and the unending pursuit of conscious, sustainable flourishing.

Flavor Profile Date, mango, chocolate pudding

Ingredients Cacao, cane sugar

Allergen Free of egg, gluten, milk, nuts, soy, wheat

Net Weight 75 g