There were two chocolate booths at the show that are really in line with the Gnosis philosophy of caring about the greater good: The Grenada Chocolate Company and Madécasse.

The creators of Madécasse are devoted to sustainable agriculture.  The cacao that makes up the chocolate is from Madagascar. The finished products are also produced in Madagascar, a rarity in the chocolate business. Madécasse is one of the only fine chocolates actually made in all of Africa! This creates four times more income than Fair Trade. The Grenada Chocolate Company is one of the only other chocolate companies that creates finished products in the country from which the raw materials originate. Founded in 1999 with the idea of creating an Organic Cocoa Farmers' and Chocolate-Makers' Cooperative, the company now has over 150 acres of organic cocoa farms in their cooperative and operates its own cocoa fermentry, located only one mile from their factory. They perform every activity involved in the production of their chocolate, from the planting and growing of the cocoa trees to the fermenting of the fresh cocoa beans to the processing their chocolate.

 One final booth of note is The Cotton Tree Lodge. Gnosis Chocolate will be cosponsoring (along with TheChocolateLife) a chocolate-themed retreat to the eco lodge from February 20th through February 27th, 2010!! On this trip you will not only get raw chocolate tastings and raw food talks, but you will also tour Mayan ruins, go cave swimming, snorkeling, visit a cacao farm and family, and more! Just a reminder, registration for this trip is closing soon, so be sure to register now if you plan to go!

Gnosis Chocolate honors the value of doing things from scratch. As much as possible, our chocolate is infused with love and intention. Of course, it is not realistic to have a farm in a kitchen in Long Island City, NY; but we are coming as close as we possibly can to making our chocolates from the ground up =)

ScienceDaily (Nov. 11, 2009) — The "chocolate cure" for emotional stress is getting new support from a clinical trial published online in ACS' Journal of Proteome Research. It found that eating about an ounce and a half of dark chocolate a day for two weeks reduced levels of stress hormones in the bodies of people feeling highly stressed. Everyone's favorite treat also partially corrected other stress-related biochemical imbalances.

Sunil Kochhar and colleagues note growing scientific evidence that antioxidants and other beneficial substances in dark chocolate may reduce risk factors for heart disease and other physical conditions. Studies also suggest that chocolate may ease emotional stress. Until now, however, there was little evidence from research in humans on exactly how chocolate might have those stress-busting effects.

In the study, scientists identified reductions in stress hormones and other stress-related biochemical changes in volunteers who rated themselves as highly stressed and ate dark chocolate for two weeks. "The study provides strong evidence that a daily consumption of 40 grams [1.4 ounces] during a period of 2 weeks is sufficient to modify the metabolism of healthy human volunteers," the scientists say.

Journal reference:

1. Martin et al. Metabolic Effects of Dark Chocolate Consumption on Energy, Gut Microbiota, and Stress-Related Metabolism in Free-Living Subjects. Journal of Proteome Research, 2009; 091007113151065 DOI: 10.1021/pr900607v

http://bit.ly/3BygLr 

So what is inside this one bar to make it so immune-boosting? We took a three-point approach in creating this bar: warming spices, seasonal flavors, and herbs known to boost the immune system. The breakdown is below:

Be warmed by flavorful spices; Cardamom, Ginger (circulation, digestion, anti-inflammation), Cinnamon (glucose metabolism, circulation, cognitive fuction & memory), Vanilla (aphrodisiac, hormone-balancing), and Fennel Pollen (one of the only foods on the planet containing vitamin D!)

Be comforted by flavors of the season: Persimmons (vitamin A & C, fiber), Pecans (oleic acid, beta-sitosterol - a natural cholesterol-lowering compound) , Pumpkin seeds (zinc, magnesium, l-tryptophan for depression), Cranberries (vitamin C, probiotic, proanthocyanidins for urinary tract), Black Currants (vitamin C, gamma-linoleic acid rare essential fatty acid, anthocyanins to reduce inflammation) and Blood Orange Essential Oil (aromatherapy: brightly antidepressant)

Strengthen your immune system with traditional herbs; Echinacea (Native American Herbalism: flavonoids, polysaccharides, phenols, alkylamides activate white blood cells for immunity), Ginseng (Traditional Chinese Medicine: ginsenosides for endurance, stamina, endurance, stress reduction), Elderberry (Native American Herbalism: anthocyanins enhance immune function by boosting the production of cytokines, dry cough soothing), Pau D'Arco (South American Shamanism: crystalline oxygen infused in it's inner bark gives antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal action), Cat's Claw (South American Shamanism: oxindole alkaloids, tannins, and other phytochemicals for anti-viral & gastrointestinal support); and more!!

As you can see, this is the power bar to keep you well in the coming months. Enjoy!

For the first time, we’re offering you raw truffles, direct from Gnosis Chocolate HQ! These treats, filled with pumpkin seed, cardamom, and ginger are yours for just a few days more. For your health, pumpkin seeds have been found to promote prostate health, improve bladder function, treat depression, and prevent osteoporosis among other benefits! But even more than being a healthy indulgence, these truffles are works of art. Purchase one for yourself, and one as a gift; these sweets will definitely be appreciated!

What else has cocoa been found to do?

• Lower blood pressure. "The magnitude of the hypotensive effects of cocoa is clinically noteworthy; it is in the range that is usually achieved with monotherapy of beta-blockers or antiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors," wrote the authors in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
• Protect the skin from UV damage. In 2006, German researchers reported that a daily flavanol-rich chocolate drink could thicken skin and reduce reddening by 25 percent.
• Promote brain health and reduce the risk of dementia. Research found that two weeks of consuming flavanol-rich chocolate, providing 900 mg of cocoa flavanols daily, produced significant improvements in the blood flow in the brain, particularly in the middle cerebral artery.

So go forth this Halloween, and enjoy your treats Gnosis-Style! It may just improve your thinking, blood pressure, and skin!!!

So where does our PowerChoc get its additional ‘power’ from? The Power of PowerChoc is twofold:

1. Highly Absorbable Protein from hempseed, sprout powders, almonds  (the highest protein, lowest fat nut!), sunflower seeds, maca (also an adaptogenic and aphrodisiac herb!*) spirulina & chlorella (two protein-dense, high chorophyll algaes), and goji berries (loaded with an impressive array of nutrients and phytochemicals.

2. Medicinal Herbs for Assimilation- Siberian Ginseng, blue-green algae, and cordyceps mushroom.

Let’s go in depth!

Hemp. I know you stopped at this word! Relax, this superfood is a wonderful way to get protein. In PowerChoc we use hemp in the form of a mild-tasting protein–powder. The powder alone has more than three and a half grams of protein per tablespoon – and contains all of the essential amino acids, making it a complete protein as well.

Essential Amino acids serve as the building blocks of protein and are vital for muscle regeneration, the development of lean body tissue, and the continued health of bones, skin, hair, and nails. They are vital for life, and especially so for those looking to build more muscle mass.

The bar also has Siberian Ginseng (Eleuthero). This is possibly the world's most renowned herb for energy, stamina, and physical endurance, memory, mental acuity, and - being an adaptogenic herb - it helps with adaptation to stress by supporting the adrenal glands. Eluthero has also shown to improve the use of oxygen by the exercising muscle, so you can maintain aerobic exercise for longer, with shorter recovery time. PowerChoc is perfect gym food!

We also included “Super Ginseng,” or Cordyceps Mushrooms. In traditional Chinese Medicine, Cordyceps Sinensis is considered to benefit the lung and kidney channels. It is commonly used with the elderly in China as a type of "super ginseng" for rejuvenation and stamina.

And if you’re at all wary about the taste of all of these herbs, nuts, and powders, do not fear, as great care has been taken to ensure that all of the ingredients in the Gnosis PowerChoc bar combine to create a taste that is rich, tempting, and enlivening.

There is no other bar on the planet so CHOC full of POWER!

Fleur de Sel, naturally moist, and so fine it requires no grinding is harvested completely without any machinery. Compared with table salt's two minerals, fleur de sel has 92, including potassium, magnesium, and calcium! The crystals are hand-harvested by artisan salt workers in France, called paludiers, whose method  of skimming the top of the salt marsh with rakes traces back 1000 years. The salt dries naturally by sun and wind.

 The Himalayan Crystal Salt is pink and mined in India out of rock. This salt is very mineral-rich: 84 minerals trapped inside the crystal matrix structure! These crystals are small enough to be able to penetrate the human cells in a form that can be easily assimilated and metabolized by the body.

Historically, sea and rock salt were well known to the ancient Greeks who noted that eating salty food affected basic body functions such as digestion and excretion. They began to use the salt medically. Hippocrates frequently made use of salt in healing, he mentions inhalation of steam from salt-water; we know today that the anti-inflammatory effects of inhaled salt provide relief from respiratory symptoms. 20000 years ago, Greek medicine had already discovered topical use of salt for skin lesions, drinking salty or mineralized waters for digestive troubles and inhaling salt for respiratory diseases! I think they may have worshiped Gnosis’ Fleur de Sel bar!

So to review, salt helps with digestion, is a strong natural antihistamine, and is essential for the prevention of muscle cramps. Try this awesome flavor for yourself, and enjoy the way the salt intensifies all of the cacao flavor!

1. Smell (1-10 possible points)

2. Look / Shine (1-10 possible points)

3. Taste (1-10 possible points)

4. Consistency / Mouth-Feel (1-10 possible points)

5. Finish (1-10 possible points)

It's best to be a BetaChoc tester if you have already purchased chocolate from our website and know how our Simplicity tastes, or if you have a bar of our chocolate purchased online to compare to. When purchased online, the chocolate is extremely fresh and so it will be a fair test!