The Pure Essence of Rawlicious Cacao: From Peruvian Fields to Handcrafted Delight
In a world where chocolate often means mass-produced bars loaded with sugars and additives, Rawlicious Cacao stands out as a beacon of purity and craftsmanship. Founded by Monika in Arizona, this artisan brand is dedicated to creating organic, raw, hand-crafted gourmet chocolates that nourish both body and soul. Inspired in 2023 by a passion for the highest quality ingredients, Monika has turned chocolate-making into an art form, blending tradition, sustainability, and innovation. Today, we're diving into the heart of what makes Rawlicious truly special: our exceptional cacao sourced straight from Peru's lush regions.
The Journey of Our Criollo Cacao Beans
At the core of every Rawlicious chocolate is 100% Criollo cacao beans, hand-harvested from Peru's dedicated cacao production areas. Criollo, often called the "king of cacao," is prized for its complex flavors and rarity—making up less than 5% of the world's cacao supply. Our beans are sustainably harvested, ensuring that every step respects the environment and the communities involved. We're proud to be fair trade certified, adhering strictly to anti-corruption policies, ethical labor practices, human rights standards, and environmental sustainability guidelines. This means that when you indulge in a piece of Rawlicious, you're supporting a chain of goodness from farm to table.
What sets our cacao apart is the meticulous, low-temperature processing that preserves its raw integrity. During fermentation—the crucial stage where flavors develop—the beans reach a maximum of just 115-120 degrees Fahrenheit. We achieve this by extending the fermentation time, allowing natural processes to unfold slowly and gently. More time means deeper, more nuanced fermentation without the need for high heat, which can strip away vital nutrients and enzymes.
From there, the magic continues with cold-pressing techniques for our cacao powder, paste, and butter. These steps occur at temperatures even lower than fermentation, ensuring that our products remain truly raw. The result? The most vibrant, nutrient-dense, and best-tasting cacao available today. It's chocolate in its purest form, bursting with antioxidants, minerals, and that irresistible earthy depth that only raw cacao can deliver.
Crafting Perfection: The Rawlicious Process
Rawlicious isn't just about the cacao—it's about the entire symphony of ingredients and the hands-on love poured into each creation. Based in Arizona, Monika sources only the finest, organic, and raw components to complement our Peruvian cacao. Our local, raw, unfiltered honey comes straight from Arizona's beekeepers, adding a floral sweetness that's as natural as it gets. For a touch of New England charm, we use maple syrup from Vermont, naturally organic and processed with 100% organic de-foamers during boiling.
Nuts play a starring role in many of our varieties, and we go directly to trusted farmers in California for our raw, organic almonds and pistachios. These relationships ensure freshness and quality without compromise. And for that pop of color and flavor? Monika draws from her own organic garden, using vibrant, raw ingredients like beets, butternut squash, cantaloupe, carrots, goji berries, honeydew melon, wildcrafted prickly pear, pumpkin, raspberries, strawberries, sweet potatoes, and watermelon. These natural hues make each chocolate a visual masterpiece, hand-painted to be one-of-a-kind.
Every step is artisanal: hand-stirred, hand-poured, and hand-packaged. We skip the gluten, soy, granulated or refined sugars, additives, and preservatives entirely, letting the ingredients shine on their own. Our organic varieties include delights like raw peeled almonds and pistachios, strawberries with cardamom, raspberries paired with sprouted buckwheat groats, and fully vegan options. But the crown jewel is our signature "Flower of Life" piece—an exquisite expression of perfection and harmony, symbolizing the balance we strive for in every bite.
Why Rawlicious Feeds Body and Soul
Choosing Rawlicious means embracing chocolate that's not just a treat, but a wellness ritual. The raw processing locks in the cacao's natural benefits, from mood-boosting compounds to heart-healthy flavonoids. Paired with wholesome sweeteners and garden-fresh colors, our chocolates are designed to delight your palate while aligning with a mindful lifestyle.
Monika's two-decade-long relationships with suppliers underscore our commitment to quality and ethics. It's this patience and perseverance that harmoniously brings everything together, creating chocolates that feel like a personal gift from nature.
Whether you're savoring a vegan raspberry creation or the intricate "Flower of Life," Rawlicious invites you to experience chocolate redefined. Stay tuned for more in our series, where we'll explore specific flavors, health benefits, and behind-the-scenes stories. Indulge responsibly—and rawliciously! If you're ready to try, visit our site to order your handcrafted treasures today.