Tag

chocolate

13/10/2021

Where Does Chocolate Come From? | Friars Chocolate

We all love the stuff; but where does chocolate come from, what is its history and where did it all start. Well, it has its beginnings set in Mesoamerica, (Middle America) stretching back to 450 BC when the people of that time enjoyed fermented beverages made from chocolate. We can imagine even now how those ancient civilisations would settle back for a luxurious bowl of chocolate before retiring for the night. It is perhaps not surprising that the Aztecs believed that cacao (cocoa) seeds were the gift of Quetzalcoatl, the... Read More

30/09/2021
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Trick or Treat? Halloween Treats & Spirits at Friars

First of all, can anyone else not quite believe that it’s almost Halloween already!? 2021 is passing in record time and whilst we’re very glad it’s almost Christmas (yay more chocolate), we’re still taking a bit of time to process just how quickly it’s really going. Oh well, spooky season is upon us and we think now is the perfect time to introduce you to some perfect chocolate treats for this halloween season, as well as some special spirits, for those who enjoy a tipple and a pun over the... Read More

27/09/2021

What is Palm Oil and why are People Avoiding it? | Friars Chocolate

A new consumer trend which is becoming more and more popular as 2021 progresses is the awareness of palm oil, something that is now encouraging more and more shoppers to check if their products contain palm oil before they buy it. So, what exactly is it that is driving this new found palm oil woke-ness?  Palm Oil Basics In essence, palm oil is an edible vegetable based oil which comes from the fruit of oil palm trees. Manufacturing the oil can have two end products, crude palm oil from the... Read More

31/08/2021

What is the Difference between a Chocolate and a Truffle | Friars

Chocolate and truffles, we love to eat them both, but do we really know what makes them different from each other? Some might say it doesn’t matter, given that both are equally delicious and that’s all that matters right? Well, they could be correct, however we’re here now and we’re eager to share some knowledge with you, so, if you want to find out more about the differences between chocolates and truffles, then read on. Otherwise why not skip to the good bit and explore our truffle collections? A key... Read More

26/07/2021
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Best Vegan Chocolate Flavours for Summer 2021 | Friars

Chocolate lovers all unite knowing that chocolate isn’t just for Christmas and in fact the warmer summer months are often the best time to enjoy chocolate. Why? Because chocolate is fabulous, whatever the weather! Our Kakoa Vegan Chocolate Range has been lovingly created to make getting hold of luxury vegan chocolates easier than ever before. We use quality plant based ingredients such as Oat Milk to craft our vegan chocolate truffles to ensure that they leave as little a mark on our beautiful planet as possible. Our packaging is even... Read More

02/07/2021
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British Chocolatiers Setting Trends in 2021 | Friars

Throughout our growth and expansion here at Friars, we’re always focused on ensuring that the quality of our products (chocolates and sweets) is as good as it can be, that taste is the very top of it’s game and that our products are made using sustainable processes, to help us ensure the longevity of our planet. Because let’s face it, no planet means no customers, and that’s bad for business! We’re passionate about ensuring that our operations are as eco-friendly as possible, that’s why we source low carbon ingredients and... Read More

25/06/2021
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How we reduce air miles with our Vegan Oat Milk | Friars

One of the major problems with finding cruelty free alternatives to ingredients such as milk is that often, producing the alternatives can be quite harmful to the environment. Whether it’s using Almonds grown internationally, or other products that require a lot of processing with water, sometimes vegan food manufacturers can end up contributing to an overly large carbon output, which as we know can be harmful to our planet.  At Friars, when we first designed our Kakoa Vegan Chocolate range we wanted to produce a product that was as eco-conscious... Read More

28/05/2021

How Chocolate can help Predict Changes in Consumer Behaviour

Chocolate is often recognised as a very powerful tool in marketing and consumer psychology. From the early days of TV advertising specifically, chocolate has been used to portray feelings of sheer decadence, almost sinful luxury which brings consumers back to their favourite chocolate brands time and time again. It’s thanks to the connotations of chocolate (and the fact that chocolate is simply delicious) that many marketers and market analysts use chocolate sales data in order to predict upcoming market trends for the confectionary industry, and beyond.  Whilst the concept is... Read More

29/04/2021
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2021 See’s Huge Surge in Demand for Vegan Chocolate

Through 2021 and the end of 2020 during the festive season. Chocolate makers such as ourselves have seen a huge demand for vegan and plant based chocolates, as more and more people choose to switch over to living a more balanced and conscious lifestyle. Vegan chocolates are all about ensuring that luxury items can be produced in a cruelty free manner without the use of animal products, in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way – that’s why our vegan chocolates are produced to very high standards and specifications, using responsibly... Read More

26/04/2021

Can Chocolate Really Improve My Mood? Friars Investigates

We understand, perhaps more than most people just how effective chocolate can be at improving your mood and making you feel better. Chocolate advertisers have been toying with this idea for years, just think of the old 80’s and 90’s chocolate adverts and you’ll plunge into a decadent, heavenly and slightly cheeky pleasure that is hard to replicate with other foods. This is all because chocolate in itself is a luxury item, one that can be enjoyed in moderation and can of course offer some physical and mental health benefits,... Read More