No this is not a steel furnace - actually cocoa beans being roasted!!
Beans are fermented and roasted to bring the flavour out
The search for the "ultimate chocolate"..
As you know we believe chocolate and love happily co-exist and this seems to be the case with this company - because when Art Pollard was on his honeymoon he decided that there had to be better chocolate than what was being produced by the big manufacturers that had brought mass production and industrialization to the chocolate process. Thus began his search for the "ultimate chocolate", which is not bland or flat, but has superior taste, texture and a process that brings out the equisite flavours of natural chocolate.
Poring through chocolate books, both ancient and modern, and taking notes extensively (far more than he ever did in college), Art slowly developed his methodology to chocolate. Having a background in the sciences, it wasn't long thereafter that he started to experiment with making his own chocolate machinery. Slowly, and after many trials, Art perfected his machinery and techniques.
The chocolate soon started getting rave reviews from some of the local chefs. Art's business partner, Clark Goble, also started to take notice and suggested that they take Art's chocolate and make it for everyone. Art was initially reluctant knowing what a monumental task it would be, but slowly the idea grew, and so did the demand from the local community.
Over the next period, Art honed his skills by studying chocolate manufacturing in Europe and traveling throughout Mexico studying chocolate in the heart of the country where cacao originated. It was not until Art felt that the chocolate he was producing was comparable to only the very best European chocolate that he jumped in whole heartedly and started building their factory.
Now the chocolate is ready to share with the world what was once only shared among a few select chefs.
© Melt 2012
