The majority of people buy their Easter eggs from a supermarket, instead of buying ethically sourced Easter eggs. Putting them in their trolley with the regular food shopping. But if you are keen to make a more ethical purchase – there are a few options you may not be aware of.
Fair trade and organic chocolate producers have started to see a growing market in Easter chocolates. Producing eye catching and deliciously-flavoured chocolate to rival the mass-produced chocolate offerings on the high street.
More than 20 countries in the developing world produce fair trade chocolate; with 320,000 cocoa farmers in the fair trade community. That is a lot of livelihoods positively impacted by us eating chocolate. The Ethical Superstore stock a nice variety of fairtrade and ethical chocolate products, and here are some of my favourites.
Ethically Sourced Milk Chocolate Easter Eggs
Divine is a fair trade manufacturer that only works with producers who meet their stringent criteria for fair-trade production and ethical working practices. As well as producing delicious chocolate, they aim to raise awareness about why fair trade cocoa production is needed and encourage all chocolate manufacturers to pay a fair price for their raw ingredients.
I love these speckled eggs, they are so pretty to look at, just like birds eggs.
Montezumas peanut butter mini eggs are a good fair trade alternative to Reese’s peanut butter Easter eggs. Free from gluten, palm oil, GM ingredients and any artificial flavours and preservatives. As a company they support the charity Children on the Edge.
Personally I love peanut butter and love nothing more than a peanut butter filled mini egg. I can tell you that these ones taste absolutely delicious.
Dairy Free Easter Eggs
Ethically sourced Easter eggs also come in dairy free and vegan varieties. This creamy vegan chocolate salted caramel flavour Easter egg from Hip is made from oat milk and the packaging is completely plastic free as well. Good quality vegan Easter eggs can be difficult to source. This brand also produces the equally delicious sounding flavours cookie no cream and salty pretzel.
For a dairy free Easter egg with a fun twist you won’t go far wrong with the Moo Free Choccy Eggsplosion Easter Egg. It looks amazing, and is covered with white chocolate, marshmallows and chocolate drops. Perfect for kids and big kids alike. Vegans and vegetarians can enjoy this guilt-free treat free from any animal products.
Moo Free don’t only produce dairy free delicious goodies they also give back, supporting a local autism charity and employing local autistic people into their workforce.
For someone who prefers white chocolate to milk, there are plenty of dairy-free options. Like this oat milk white chocolate and raspberry bar. Free from palm oil and plastic packaging. In fact the packaging is home compostable and printed with vegetable-based inks, making it a truly environmentally friendly purchase.
Why Pay More For Ethically Sourced Easter Eggs?
Let’s deal with the elephant in the blog post. Ethical chocolate costs more. There’s no getting around that. But is it worth paying more? Mass produced chocolate might be cheaper but it comes at a bigger cost. Until recently, most supermarket bought Easter eggs contained a lot of plastic packaging.
3 Reasons Why You Should Buy Fair Trade Chocolate
- Empowerment. Providing opportunities and investment in local communities and small businesses and farms to create sustainable farming and long-term incomes. Higher incomes mean a greater chance that children will be able to attend school, increasing their educational opportunities.
- Environment. Sustainable farming is a much better environmental alternative than mass farming practices.
- Equality. In Cote d’Ivoire (the country that 80% of all fairtrade cocoa is produced in) there is a Fairtrade Women’s School of Leadership that provides practical training in skills like negotiation, decision making and being financially savvy. For women in the developing world this is an example of a huge opportunity; allowing them to create, build and strengthen their own businesses.
Delicious and empowering. Head to the Ethical Superstore to buy your fair trade and ethically manufactured chocolate.
