August
1996
Sinlessly
Delicious: Chocolate Without the Guilt
By Julie Hughes
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The ultimate of sins, chocolate
would seem to be out of reach to holier than thou vegans. But
now you can indulge yourself without fear of redemption. Tropical
Source from Cloud Nine Inc, based in Hoboken, New Jersey, offers
no fewer than eight flavors for you to send yourself to hell
smiling.
Since its founding in 1991, Cloud Nine has revolutionized the chocolate
industry with dramatic graphic designs and innovative new flavors. The
CEO of the company, Joshua Taylor, has been producing the Tropical Source
line for three years now and is himself a vegan. This would explain why
the candy is dairy-free, uses refined sugar-free chocolate and is free
of all animal products. (Because Tropical Sources non-dairy formula is
processed on dairy equipment, however, it contains tiny amounts of casein
and lactose. There is no dairy in the recipe.) Where milk is ordinarily
used in most chocolate bars, tofu is in its place. Instead of sugar,
Tropical Source substitutes a pure unrefined cane juice crystal, obtained
by a simple evaporation and natural milling process. The chocolates is
never bleached or chemically processed.
There are eight flavors of Tropical Source, three organic bars, four
bite-size pieces and three flavors of chocolate chip, including the only
espresso flavor on the market. The flavors are unusually rare and one
would be hard-pressed to find them in any other chocolate line. They
include: Toasted Almond, Cookie Crunch, Wild Rice Crisp, Hazelnut Espresso
Crunch, Mint Candy Crunch, Maple Almond Granola, Sundried Jungle Banana,
California Raisins and Currants, and Red Raspberry Crush.
Cloud Nine prides itself on making its products environmentally sound.
For example, the cocoa beans used in their specialty chocolates are purchased
at 30% over market value to ensure that the growers have a steady customer
and to create a market for a sustainably produced rainforest product.
All of the products are 100% natural. Only recycled papers with soy-based
vegetable inks are used for wrappers. Even the company paper stock is
100% recycled, from 100% post consumer waste.
Cloud Nine was created because of a need in the marketplace. The company
does extensive research into consumer wants and needs, said Sharon Desser,
Director of Communications, in a recent conversation with Satya. She
explained that Cloud Nine spends a great deal of time just researching
consumers and when it sees a gap in the market, it fills it within a
year; it takes them that long to develop a new product.
Desser pointed out that both ethical and health concerns were involved
in the creation of Tropical Source chocolates. Cloud Nine devotes time
and profits to numerous environmental and social justice organizations,
including the Rainforest Alliance, Co-op America, the Social Venture
Network, the Organic Trade Association and Community Alliance for Family
Farmers. 10% of the companys profits is donated to rainforest preservation
and for the protection of indigenous peoples. In the past, Cloud Nine
has supported UNICEF and Coalition for the Homeless. Cloud Nine was the
leader in charitable enterprises and other companies have followed, which
is quite a positive outcome, Desser commented.
When asked about sales, Desser enthusiastically replied: Sales
are up, we are seeing a great deal of growth and the product
is growing exponentially.
Strong support comes from vegans, vegetarians and natural food lovers.
But its not just veggies who are snapping up these little delicacies.
Tropical Source appeals to all types of people, vegetarian or not.
The reason for this? The delicious taste of their candies.
In only one year,
Cloud Nine was nominated for Product of the Year in Candy Marketer
Magazine, Desser also informed Satya. Many have called the
company the Ben & Jerrys
of the chocolate industry.
Looking into the future of non-dairy chocolate, Desser foresees wide
expansion. The natural food industry is simply exploding into the mainstream
market. As for the future of Cloud Nine, in September a new line is debuting,
adorably named Lions, Tigers and Bears. These truffle chocolates fashioned
into the shape of (yes, you guessed it!) lions, tigers and bears will
be available in hazelnut, espresso and raspberry. In addition, this summer,
a new line of Tropical Source Hard Candies will be available in six flavors.
But Cloud Nine is not the only company out there. Glen Foods, based in
Valley Stream, New York, and in business for 15 years, also carries a
line of non-dairy chocolate. The Glennies bars, which debuted in 1995,
are 90% fat-free and contain high fiber. There are three flavors of Glennies
creamy chocolate, almond crunch and peanut crunch. The main ingredient
of these bars is brown rice. Other ingredients include rolled oats, cereal
syrup, fruit, coconut, vanilla and natural flavors. A spokesperson from
Glen Foods informed Satya that sales are up because these bars allow
guilt-free consumption of candy. This candy appeals to the lactose-intolerant
and dairy sensitive public, and is also kosher. Glen Foods is confident
about the market for its products, feeling that the popularity of non-dairy
chocolate will grow. As a result, it will be expanding its line in the
future.
These candies provides the public with guilt-free sweets, an indulgence
that, just a few years ago, did not exist. And looking beyond the health
benefits of the candy and the fact that 10% of Cloud Nines profits are
donated for ethical causes, the products are just plain fabulous. Tropical
Source and Glennies candy can be found at most health food stores, but
are quickly branching out into the mainstream market.
Julie Hughes is the Assistant Editor of Satya.
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© STEALTH TECHNOLOGIES INC. |
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