Chef Peter Gordon and Wellington Chocolate Factory have teamed up to produce a unique chocolate bar influenced by Gordon's preferred Pacific flavours. The bar will debut at Chocstock later this month.
Gordon serves as this year's official Chocstock Festival Ambassador. The event will highlight the Pacific region's impact on the local craft chocolate scene.
The newly developed Pacific Coconut & Ginger Chocolate Bar spotlights Fijian coconut, ginger, and Tongan vanilla and is crafted using Vanuatu cocoa. It also has cacao nibs smoked in Samoan cocoa husks and sea salt.
"In your first bite, you're immediately transported to the islands. I like to imagine it takes you to a beach, with the smoky aroma of a nearby umu and the fragrance of vanilla in the air," said Gordon.
Renowned Wellington-based artist Michel Tuffery (MNZM), of Samoan, Rarotongan, and Ma’ohi Tahitian descent, has created a Uso Woodblock used for the wrapper, depicting the narrative of the bar's ingredients gathering process.
"It illustrates the harvest, drying, and extraction of vanilla, as well as the collection and preparation of coconut. Its themes will resonate with all Pacific Islanders; it's a tapestry of tales honouring these ingredients and Wellington Chocolate Factory's handmade philosophy," said Tuffery.
At the core of the print lies a vaka and compass, paying homage to the 4000 km, 13-week expedition to the Pacific undertaken in 2015 by WCF co-founders Gabe Davidson and Rochelle Harrison.
"This expedition was driven by two objectives - promoting the exceptional cocoa cultivated in the Pacific and assisting local cocoa farmers in upgrading their cocoa bean drying facilities - which was made possible at the time thanks to the generous support of over 500 individuals via Kickstarter,” said Davidson.
“For ten years, the Pacific, its people, and its flavours have been integral to our journey. In 2022, we introduced our Grower Partner program, directly sourcing beans from Vanuatu farmers. This approach ensures that they receive fair compensation for their efforts, fostering a sustainable local industry.”
The Pacific Coconut & Ginger Chocolate Bar will be available at Chocstock, Wellington Chocolate Factory, and select retailers.
