FAQ
- How do you craft chocolate?
Our bean-to-bar process begins with flavour-grade cocoa nibs, which are selected from cocoa bean origins based on their flavour profile and transparency throughout the trade chain. These roasted nibs are transformed into smooth, luxurious chocolate through a minimum 48-hour grinding process with the addition of organic cane sugar, Canadian milk powder and other locally-sourced ingredients. The final result is transformed into chocolate bars or used to coat delightful centres like nuts, malt balls, and candied fruit.
Our chocolate is crafted in small batches and allows for full control over every step of production. By combining an artisanal approach with a commitment to local and unique ingredients, DWN offers a distinctive chocolate experience that goes beyond the ordinary dark and milk chocolate options. The focus at DWN is quality and flavour over quantity, creating unique flavours using chocolate as the medium.
- Where do you find your ingredients?
Whenever possible, DWN Chocolate sources local or Canadian products, and works with other Canadian companies supplying chocolate products or derivatives. (Since cacao grows in climates close to the equator, there will never be a truly local Canadian chocolate.)
We are proud to feature as many local and Canadian ingredients as possible in our creations, including Ontario fruits that are freeze-dried and purchased in-season, milk powder from Medallion Milk in Winnipeg, foraged items from Forbes Wild Foods, and flaked sea salt from Vancouver Island Salt Company.
- How should chocolate be stored?
Chocolate products should be stored in a cool and dry environment away from heat and direct sunlight. Keep chocolate out of the fridge to protect it from humidity and strong aromas. Chocolate is best eaten at room temperature.
Each product packed by DWN Chocolate will have a best before date provided with the list of ingredients.
- What does the percentage mean in chocolate?
The percentage of cocoa in chocolate refers to the amount of cocoa solids or cocoa butter (or combination of the two) in the chocolate. For example, our 70% dark chocolate bar is 70 parts cocoa beans and cocoa butter, and 30% organic cane sugar.
A milk chocolate bar also contains a proportion of milk ingredients. For example, a 45% milk chocolate bar contains 45 parts cocoa beans and cocoa butter, and 65% sugar and milk powder.
- Do your products contain nuts?
Many of our products contain nuts. There are several common allergens used in our facility and all our chocolate may contain traces of nuts, tree nuts, peanuts, sesame seeds, soy, dairy and wheat. Products that contain nuts or other allergens are marked as such, and full ingredient lists are available for each product. Our facility is not certified peanut- or tree-nut free. If you have questions about a particular allergen, please reach out before ordering. We will happily guide you through the ingredient details of our chocolate.
If you have a severe allergy to any one of these ingredients (nuts, tree nuts, peanuts, sesame seeds, soy, dairy, wheat) we must sadly advise that you do not partake.
- Are your products soy free?
The malt ball centres as well as a few other inclusions that we use contain soy. Products that contain soy are marked as such, and full ingredient lists are available for each product. If you have questions about a particular allergen, please reach out before ordering.
- Do your products contain gluten?
Some of our products do contain gluten and are marked as such. Our facility is not certified gluten free. If you have questions about a particular allergen, please reach out before ordering. We will happily guide you through the ingredient details of our chocolate.
- Do you make sugar free chocolate?
Yes, there is a section in the online store dedicated to sugar free items.
- Is your chocolate vegan?
Yes, many of our products are vegan and can be found here. Please note that dairy is used in our facility and all our chocolate may contain traces of dairy.