Tour an Organic Chocolate Factory - Seattle, Wa

Most everyone enjoys creamy and delicious chocolate but how many of us have had the opportunity to tour a chocolate factory. At Theo Chocolate they offer tours of their organic chocolate factory 7 days a week. You will learn about the cacao fruit, and the processes it goes through to become the mouth watering morsels we refer to as chocolate. In addition this informative tour will also explain the social and environmental issues relating to cocoa and cocoa farmers. Touring a chocolate factory wouldn't be quite as entertaining if you couldn't sample the products. Not to worry, you will be allowed to sample all of their tantalizing products during your tour.

The history of Theo Chocolate began with it's founder Joseph Whinney. Joe had a dream of building the first organic chocolate factory in the US. He is credited for pioneering the supply of organic cocoa beans into the United States in 1994. Theo Chocolate is the first and only organic and Fair Trade chocolate factory in the country. All of Theo Chocolate ingredients are carefully screened. They use only pure ingredients that have been grown sustainably. The factory is powered by green energy sources and they use sustainable packaging and printing methods. The tours of the factory are meant to provide education about social and environmental accountability. What the name Theo means: it comes from the Greek name of the Cacao tree - Theobroma Cacao, Food of the Gods.

Theo chocolate has been nominated as one of the top ten companies for "Green Business of the Year" for the 2010 Green America People Choice Awards. What does this award mean? It is a celebration of the leaders of the green economy. Companies that work to help, not hurt people, communities, and the planet.. How does Theo help save the planet by making organic chocolate? They focus on sustainable growing practices that benefit both our fragile environmental ecosystem and all of the people inhabiting our planet. Integrated pest management protects farmers and the environment from damaging pesticides. The shade grown cacao allows for biodiversity and much needed forest habitat for many species such as migratory birds. Reforestation helps offset worldwide air pollution and has a positive impact on global warming.

The tour of the organic chocolate factory is approx. 1 hour and fifteen minutes long. The cost to take the tour is $6.00 per person. Because the tour is quite popular on the weekends they do ask that you make a reservation, otherwise you may not get in on the spur of the moment. In addition to touring the factory you can also purchase any of their fine organic chocolates at their retail store. By touring the Theo Chocolate factory and purchasing their special organic chocolates we a have an opportunity to be a part of their movement to save our planet and its capacity to nurture and sustain all living things.

When you leave Theo Chocolate you will take with you a sense of environmental responsibility, as well as some of the best chocolate you have ever eaten.

3400 Phinney Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98103
http://www.theochocolate.com/