| Founded: | 2001 (sold to Hershey’s 2007) |
| Headquarters: | Ashland, OR |
| Style: | Rustic; started out by supporting sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, & animal habitats |
| Characteristics: | Organic (but considering that crops imported into the USA are often fumigated &/or radiated at the border, the label is situational); rough to the roots (an appearance opposite of ‘visual-candy’, tough gritty textures, & predominately dried fruit flavors generating caramel tones from relatively high sugar levels formulated in the semisweet range) |
| Ferment: | standard |
| Roast: | mildly dark |
| Conche: | medium-low |
| Impact: | Treats chocolate like a native apothecary on a shamanistic way of the Yaqui leading to the 8-Fold Path, hence the name which refers to a Buddhist shrine; originally guided by head alchemist Frederick Schilling – the Carlos Chocotaneda of agriforestry. |
Crown Jewels:
