In previous entries we’ve spoken a bit about the benefits of enjoying fine chocolates – the freshness, the quality of ingredients, and (of course) the taste! Here at The Chocolate Nation we’re all about providing you with all natural, preservative-free artisan chocolate…and as a result we have a lot of people asking us “Exactly what kind of ingredients go into fine chocolates?”

Thankfully, the Fine Chocolate Industry Association, which The Chocolate Nation is an active member of, has created a set of standards to define what truly constitutes “fine chocolate”. The FCIA has stated that dark chocolate products should only contain: cacao liquor, cacao butter, sugar, lecithin, and vanilla; in milk chocolate, cacao liquor, cacao butter, sugar, lecithin, and vanilla; plus milk solids and milk fats; and white chocolate, (which many ask “is it really chocolate? (we will dedicate a blog to this subject!)) cacao liquor, cacao butter, sugar, lecithin, and vanilla. The definition does not mandate or require that each chocolate product contain all of the ingredients above, but that no ingredients outside of this core group make the list.

The definitions above are only a start to what really defines fine chocolate. At The Chocolate Nation we are committed to quality, as are the artisan chocolatiers we partner with on this site. This allows you to shop with confidence – knowing that whatever chocolate items you purchase are being held to the highest possible standards. Enjoy!