That’s right a little piece of dark chocolate has a powerful amount of antioxidants in it which can cause a positive effect on your health.  Check-out these healthy facts about our dark chocolate…

• The antioxidants in our dark chocolate also known as flavonoids help protect against free radicals that cause cell and tissue damage. Antioxidants can also inhibit plaque formation in the arteries and improve the flexibility of blood vessels.
• Dark chocolate contains beneficial vitamins and minerals, including copper, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus.
• Cocoa Butter an ingredient in our chocolate contains stearic acid which has a neutral affect on cholesterol.
• While caffeine is a naturally occurring chemical in chocolate, it contains less then the amount in coffee, tea or soda.
• A portion of chocolate’s fat comes from oleic acid, a heart-healthy, monounsaturated fat.
• Eating chocolate releases endorphins, known as “feel good” chemicals.

So let yourself indulge in a little chocolate and you might feel a little healthier.

Spring is just around the corner and what better way to get ready for it and the Easter Bunny then by stocking-up on your favorite bite sized treats. Our Hoppy Treats are available in milk and dark chocolate and come-in a festive green wrapper prefect for spring.

These treats are also perfect as favors for that spring baby shower or even as wedding favors. So make sure you stock-up on a few bags and get ready to welcome Spring with some delicious bite-sized chocolate treats.

In honor of February being Chocolate Lover’s Month we’ve posted one of our favorite recipes below that uses our delectable Grizzly Bar.  So whip out your baking mitt and join others in celebrating our mutual love of chocolate.

Dark Chocolate & Raspberry Muffins

 ½ cup butter, softened

¾ cup sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

2 cups flour

1 cup milk

1-3oz. Endangered Species Dark Chocolate with Raspberries bar, coarsely chopped

1 cup raspberries (frozen work well)

Preheat oven to 375.  Spray muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray.

 Beat butter and sugar until fluffy.  Add eggs, one at a time.  Add vanilla, baking powder and salt.  Gently incorporate ½ cup of milk and 1 cup of flour into the mixture.  Repeat with the other ½ cup of milk and cup of flour.  Fold in chocolate and raspberries.

Spoon batter into cups and bake for 20-25 minutes.  Let cool slightly before serving.

Makes 12 muffins

We’ve thought so for years but now Prevention.com agrees and says our dark chocolate with deep forest mint bar (Rainforest) is good for you.  Take a second and read an excerpt from their review below.  You can read their entire review by clicking on this link http://www.prevention.com/chocolates/9.html

Why we love it: With a sweet balance of mint and dark chocolate, this bar can turn even the biggest critic into a dark chocolate lover. Besides its rich flavor, dark chocolate contains heart-healthy antioxidants called polyphenols, which guard your heart from disease and reduce LDL (”bad” cholesterol), elevated blood pressure, and unhealthy blood clotting.

Thanks to all of your votes our Smooth Organic Dark Chocolate gained a Libby Award for “Best Vegan Chocolate!”  This is the first time we’ve been named best vegan chocolate and we’re very excited about the honor.  You can check-out a complete list of winning products by visting this link… http://www.peta2.com/outthere/o-libbyawards2009winners.asp

Did you know there’s an Endangered Species Chocolate Bar Song? Well it is true, and ESC is smitten with Demimonde Slumber Party, the band who wrote this cute little ditty, which is about to be released on their new CD.

ESC is donating some product for Demimonde Slumber Party’s CD release party this Valentine’s Day. As thanks the band is making the song available for free download for an extended period to ESC  from now through the 14th. So be sure to check-it-out and here’s the link:

http://demimondeslumberparty.bandcamp.com/track/endangered-species-chocolate-bar

Rainforest Alliance will be holding a webinar at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow morning on the environmental and social issues involved with cocoa production.  As of 2010 all ESC 1.4 oz organic chocolate features the Rainforest Alliance certification on their labels.  So check-out this very informative webinar and learn how chocolate made from sustainably-grown cocoa can help protect the environment and improve the lives of cocoa-growing families. 

You can access the webinar and register by clicking on this link http://my.rainforest-alliance.org/site/Calendar?view=Detail&id=100261 additional information is below.

What are the environmental and social issues associated with cocoa production? How does the Rainforest Alliance address these problems?  How can you help?

Join the Rainforest Alliance’s in-house cocoa expert Edward Millard on Thursday, February 11th at 11 AM EST for a presentation that answers these questions and more.  Edward will give an overview of the Rainforest Alliance’s sustainable agriculture program and our work to transform the cocoa industry.  Following the presentation, Edward will be available to take questions.

This is a 45 minute online presentation and requires a high speed internet connection.

Date: Thursday, February 11, 2010
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM 

The atmosphere around ESC this week has been very excited in anticipation of the big game on Sunday.  To get in the spirit, ESC has teamed-up with Indy Parks & Recreation and donated some of its delicious organic chocolate to send in a package to New Orleans if the Indianapolis Colts don’t win the Super Bowl this weekend. 

Rumor has it that if they win a package full of red beans, beads and a voodoo doll will be on it’s way to Indianapolis on Monday courtesy of New Orleans City Park. 

So weather you’re from Indianapolis or not support your favorite all-natural and organic chocolate company this weekend by believing in blue!

After months of receiving heartfelt and HOPEful story submissions we’ve picked a winner.  Hannah Wilkins is the overall winner for our HOPE essay contest.  Hannah’s story has won her a $5000 donation to the non-profit of her choice which is Bat World Sanctuary. 

 So join us in congratulating Hannah and thank-you to all who participated in the essay contest over the past year.  We had a really tough time choosing a winner because we received so many inspiring essays. You can read Hannah’s winning essay below…

“I am eighteen years old. I just became certified in insectivorous bat rehabilitation this last Friday through Bat World Sanctuary, a non-profit organization and world leader in bat rehabilitation and conservation. I spent the past week feeding and caring for orphaned Mexican free-tail bats three times a day, often past midnight because there were so many. I realized, however, that all your exhaustion and selfishness stemming from your disappointment with life, yourself, and others peels away at the innocent gaze of an infant. When you hold a tiny body within the palm of your hand and feel their little tummies expand with nourishment, you realize that you are their only hope – suddenly your problems become dwarfed compared to theirs. That sense of empowerment leads to confidence, courage, and, most of all, humility. It’s those, like the orphan bats I cared for, who are the most helpless in this world but still throw everything they’ve got into life that give me hope.”

That’s right we want to know what kind of products your interested in seeing us launch in the next year.  Please click on the link below to begin the survey and thanks for your feedback!

http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22A664NK9CR