For the love of Theo! Hailing from the tree, Theobroma cacao, chocolate is known as the food of the gods. (Theo=”god”; Broma= “food) Derived from the plant’s latin nomenclature, theobromine is the chief bitter alkaloid in chocolate as well as tea leaves and the kola nut.
Theobromine’s chemical structure is similar to the more widely known compound caffeine and therefore causes comparable physiological changes when ingested including myocardial (of the heart) stimulant and vasodilator resulting in reduced blood pressure.
These physiological effects of theobromine among others related to flavanoids in chocolate led it to be praised for it medicinal benefits. Actually, there was a time when doctors would prescribe chocolate to their patients. If only that were still the case, I think the doctor’s office would be a much happier place.
Were you to open a chocolate company, it, therefore, makes perfect sense to name it “Theo“. It opened in 2006. Located in a funky and fitting neighborhood in Seattle, WA, Theo is the first certified organic, fair-trade bean to bar factory in North America with a mission to change the world through chocolate.
On their website, they state, “We are all connected. We touch one another’s lives in incredible ways. And we are responsible to and for one another. From the cacao farmer in the Congo, to the truck driver in Seattle, to the chocolate lover in Philadelphia, there is a thread that runs through us all. Theo believes in celebrating those connections, in strengthening them and in finding inspiration within them—inspiration to change the world. We know that every action has a result. That the choices we make here in Seattle, Washington touch lives across the planet in real and lasting ways. That knowledge, and that responsibility, is what drives us to do things differently, to help make the world a better place.
We’ve been fortunate that Theo’s founding vision – a spirit of innovation and excellence, a desire to create positive change and throughout it all, a commitment to transparency – resonates deeply with our customers. As we share our story, we’re finding that more and more people are taking an interest in our mission to make the world a better place by bringing out the best of the cocoa bean. Our promise to our customers is that Theo’s growth will never come at the expense of our values. We think about every choice we make, every action we take and how it will impact our interconnected world.”
Joe Whinney, the founder of Theo, is involved in every step of the process from bean to bar ensuring that this chocolate is being produced in the most socially-consious and sustainable means. What does bean to bar mean? The Theo way is described best here. Regardless, what matters greatly to Joe is that everyone involved in the Theo chocolate making steps from the farmers to those hand mixing the treats in Seattle is treated with dignity.
After hearing more about the company from our tour guide, we had the chance to taste five of Theo‘s chocolate bars.
- Pure 70% Chocolate: Tasting notes include fruity, roasted, bitter
- This is a blended bean bar using beans from the Congo, Peru, and Panama
- 70% Chocolate with Dried Raspberries: Tasting notes include citrus fruity, tart, bitter
- 70% Chocolate with Salt Almonds: Tasting notes include fruity, nutty, caramel essence
- 70% Chocolate with Toasted Coconut: Tasting notes include creamy, roasted, nutty, fruity
- The coconut is toasted in house
- 45% Milk Chocolate Coffee and Cream: Tasting notes include roasted, nutty, creamy
- This is a single origin bar from Congo
After the tasting, the tour is taken through the factory. The actualy factory, not some pretend factory. It’s a completely transparent operation at Theo. Really though, do you want to read anymore about this chocolate? I think the pictures do it better justice. How about we make you drool?
Is your mouth watering yet? As Sam, a favorite soulful voice of mine sings about Cupid and Valentine’s Day sneaks up on us all reach for a gift from the gods, a Theo chocolate treat. This is a chocolate that does not gender discriminate. Women and men alike can get behind theo.
Of course, buy some chocolate in addition to a beautiful bouquet of flowers purchased from your local flower shop. Living in the Lehigh Valley? Try Michael Thomas Floral Design. (Disclaimer: It’s my amazing dad’s flower shop).
brewed forces 