Sweet Deal: Divine Chocolate and Gender Equality

As women make amazing headway in STEM fields and break into the boardroom, one organisation has been championing gender equality since its inception: Divine Chocolate. As they celebrate International Women’s Day with a scrummy new chocolate bar, get to know the company making gender equality a sweet deal, indeed.

Dark chocolate, rich hazelnut and a helping hand in supporting gender equality all over the world – there’s a lot to love about the Divine Chocolate Dark Chocolate and Hazelnut bar in March's Gin of the Month box.

This brand-new bar was designed and released to celebrate International Women’s Day. As the UK’s only chocolate company co-owned by the men and women who grow the cocoa beans that go into their bars, Divine has seen first-hand how empowering women has made for better chocolate and stronger communities – and it’s a message they’re looking to spread.

As Divine’s Char Green says, “Divine and Kuapa Kokoo, the cooperative of cocoa farmers, have worked together for over 20 years to empower men and women cocoa farmers to gain the necessary skills, confidence and influence to succeed in their industry, including through support programmes partly funded by Divine Chocolate, like adult literacy classes and micro finance schemes.”

Those investments have paid dividends aplenty, both in terms of the communities that Kuapa Kokoo has helped to build and the quality of the cocoa beans – and, ultimately, the chocolate – that comes wrapped up in Divine’s beautiful packaging. And this is one chocolate company that wears its values on its sleeves, in the form of the ‘Empowering Women’ motif on the wrapper.

Char explains: “We are celebrating the amazing power of chocolate to bring women together – from cocoa farmers to chocolate lovers. ‘Gender Equality’ is one of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. Divine wants to raise awareness of the UN’s universal call to action to end poverty and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.”

And the flavour they’ve chosen for this cause is a cracker. Already a popular flavour in the Divine USA range, the Divine team is excited to introduce the UK to this classic flavour with a unique twist.

“It isn’t your typical nut chocolate bar,” laughs Char. “Instead of being crunchy, it’s soft and luxurious. The smooth combination of ingredients melts beautifully in your mouth, finishing with a gentle nutty flavour. What’s more, it is made with all-natural ingredients, 100% pure cocoa butter, no palm oil or soya, and it’s vegan!”

Using the rich, earthy flavour of the UK’s favourite nut, hazelnut, this dark chocolate bar is wonderful paired with rooibos tea, baked into a sumptuous dessert or as an indulgent Gin O’Clock snack. “Paired with dark chocolate the smooth hazelnut makes a lovely grown up flavour,” says Char. “It’s the perfect way to try dark chocolate, because the cocoa isn’t too intense or over-whelming.”

A classic flavour combination and a good cause – sounds like something to raise a glass to!