ShawZ Chocolate

About ShawZ Chocolate

ShawZ Chocolate aims to be the world's premier supplier of oatmilk chocolate. Dairy free, allergy friendly, smooth, creamy chocolate; every bar meticulously handcrafted by Owner / Operator Ian Shaw using fair trade, organic and non-GMO ingredients. Ian has been studying and working in the chocolate industry for 15 years. Says Ian: "I'm passionate about simple flavours and natural ingredients. All of my products are crafted with health consciousness in mind and contain 50% to 75% less sugar than commercial brands."

ShawZ Chocolate tends to appeal to consumers in the health conscious, gourmet, and dairy free segments, and to consumers who prefer low sweetness treats. However, Ian poins out that, "I make GREAT chocolate for EVERYBODY. I urge you to give it a chance, you just might fall in love with it."

My chocolate is:

- Crafted from bean to bar -
- Dairy free / gluten free / vegan / allergy friendly -
- All natural (mostly organic ingredients); no GMOs whatsoever -
- Low sweetness (50 - 75% less sugar than leading brands) -
- Transparent: all ingredients disclosed on website and packaging -

What my chocolate is not:

I never use food colouring, numbered ingredients, microwaves, or artificial flavours or preservatives. If you are looking for a sugar blast, fake colours or flavours, I leave that work to the competition.

MY CHOCOLATE IS FOR EVERYBODY

My chocolate is CRAFTED to compete on flavour and sensory points that most commercial chocolate products are missing! Many of my customers state that my chocolate is the best (or amongst the best) chocolates they've tasted, or simply that it is "GREAT" chocolate. I want to be clear: I make GREAT chocolate for EVERYBODY!

-The ShawZ Chocolate story -

Craft chocolate: what is it, and how is it made?

I have been studying the chocolate industry since 2004 and through coursework and hands-on experience I became a pioneer in the craft chocolate industry by making my own chocolate from bean to bar. My business offers transparency, quality, and traceability; I import unique cocoa beans and cocoa butter from specific regions and plantations in Central America, with organic, fair trade, and/or direct trade certifications.

Light bulb moment

When I tasted craft chocolate for the first time, I was immediately struck with an "AHA!" moment where I thought to myself "This is the first time in my life I've tasted REAL chocolate!" Ultimately, that's the chocolate experience that I'm here to share with you!

Production

Here at my factory in Calgary, AB., all of my chocolate is crafted from bean to bar. In the confectionery industry, this segment is referred to as craft or artisanal chocolate. For competitive reasons I am unable to disclose my processes here. Suffice to say, it takes several days (if not weeks) to make fine chocolate from scratch, using specific processes, equipment, and alchemy to achieve a desired outcome.

Craft vs. Commercial Industrial chocolate

There are many categories, qualities and grades of chocolate out there. It is up to individual consumers to ask questions like "where does this chocolate come from?" and "how is it made?" Most of the world's chocolate is produced in large factories on a massive scale, and possesses few of the unique qualities conveyed in my chocolate. The world's mass produced chocolate finds it's way into the chocolateries, and chocolate bar companies of the world. Although these companies use chocolate in their businesses, it is uncommon for them to actually MAKE chocolate. This brings up another important point:

Chocolate maker vs. Chocolatier

In the industry, there are those who make chocolate, whether by craft methods OR on a large scale, and those who work with chocolate, who are called chocolatiers. Herein lies an important difference. The art of the chocolatier is challenging and skilled work, however, the chocolatier is commonly not a MAKER of chocolate... they make chocolateS (plural), i.e., bars, bonbons, etc. Often this creates some confusion in the industry, especially when chocolatiers convey a message to the public that they too are "chocolate makers", when in fact, they are not.

As for me... I am both a chocolate maker, and a chocolatier. Once my chocolate has been "crafted" from "bean to bar", I then perform the work of the chocolatier, pouring bars and bonbons for all of my customers to enjoy!

ShawZ Chocolate

What's with the name? "Shawsie" was my nickname in high school. I adapted the name to Shaw "Z" Chocolate for branding purposes. My name IS the company name, because I MAKE the chocolate.

The Chocolate Factory

The ShawZ Chocolate kitchen is licensed by the City of Calgary and permitted by Alberta Health under "Shawcolat Trading Co." The kitchen is located in the neighborhood of Dalhousie, NW.

Thank you for interest in ShawZ Chocolate!

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