Ana Maria Panait, the founder of RRRAW chocolate, has an inspiring story to tell about her journey in creating her boutique chocolate business in Johannesburg, South Africa. Ana's objective was to improve the livelihoods of African farmers by sourcing single origin cacao beans directly from them. However, the COVID-19 pandemic made it impossible to launch her original plan of creating naked chocolates without packaging. Despite this setback, Ana used the pandemic as an opportunity to identify her suppliers in Africa, and after exploring the beans from Uganda, Côte d’Ivoire, and Nigeria, she found that the beans from Uganda were always high in preference. From here, her business started and her supplier was from Uganda, ensuring that everyone is treated fairly.
One of the challenges Ana faced when starting her business was the lack of understanding from people about why a chocolate should cost more. However, Ana encourages everyone who wants to buy chocolate in the country to look for craft makers as they are actively trying to make a difference in the communities of farmers. Ana's focus on handcrafting chocolate means that the beans are not burnt, resulting in a dark chocolate that is not bitter. The lack of added preservatives in RRRAW chocolate ensures that it is a very pure product, and Ana reveals that the secret to good chocolate is "the lesser ingredients, the better."
At our company, we proudly proclaim that we produce the highest quality chocolate in Africa, and we aren't hesitant to make that claim. We use only the finest ingredients, which are carefully selected from various locations across the continent. The cocoa beans that we use for our Darrrk chocolate are obtained from Uganda, and they are ethically sourced through a B-corp that supports over 2500 small-scale farmers. These beans have been certified organic and have been recognized as one of the top 50 beans in the Cocoa Excellence Award.
"We believe that everyone should have access to exceptional chocolate, which is why we have made our bars vegan-friendly. Regardless of whether you are a committed meat-eater or a devoted vegan, our products are suitable for you. So, come and try our chocolate - you'll feel like you're experiencing the jungle with every bite".
The highlights of RRRAW chocolate brand so far have been the ability to experiment with creating unique products such as the white range of chocolate, which is very unique globally. Ana also wants to use her business to start a conversation about what constitutes an African chocolate and African ingredients in chocolate. RRRAW chocolate is currently available in a few markets, and the reception from people who understand the quality in chocolate has been quite enthusiastic. Ana appreciates the support and love it when people understand what she is trying to do and understand the story behind it. She emphasizes that where you put your money is where you see the value, and supporting craft makers like RRRAW chocolate helps to make a difference in the lives of African farmers.
Ana Maria Panait's story is one of perseverance and determination to create a product that is not only delicious but also makes a difference in the lives of African farmers. Her focus on handcrafting chocolate using high-quality beans from Africa has resulted in a unique and pure product that stands out from industrial chocolate. RRRAW chocolate is a brand to watch, and we look forward to seeing the impact it will continue to make in the chocolate industry.