To celebrate the launch of New York Times best-selling author Chris Bohjalian’s latest book, The Lioness, Lake Champlain Chocolates has created a limited-edition chocolate bar that captures the taste and place of the novel’s setting in Tanzania.
Using an organic and Fair Trade certified 70% extra-dark chocolate sourced from Uganda, the Lioness Chocolate Bar has a crunch from small-batch, house-made candied coconut and finishes with the fiery intensity of a Berbere spice blend, a classic East African flavor. Like a lioness, the bar’s spicy fierceness, bold chocolate notes, and hints of coconut sweetness evoke the essence of an African safari, according to LCC.
“I have been delighting in Lake Champlain Chocolates for years," said Bohjalian in a statement. "They create confections that are scrumptious. And the idea that they wanted to create a chocolate bar to celebrate my novel, The Lioness? I was gobsmacked and grateful and, yes, like a kid in a candy shop. I love what they have come up with: an extra dark chocolate bar that you’ll devour —and I really appreciate how two dollars from each bar will be donated to Fair Trade USA to empower women in agriculture across Africa.”
In partnership with Fair Trade USA, LCC and Bohjalian will raise nearly $2,500 to support female farming communities in Africa with $2 of each individual bar and $12 from every set of autographed book and bar donated to the Women’s Empowerment project.
“Chris’ enthusiasm and love for our chocolate is truly unmatched,” says Allyson Myers, director of marketing for LCC, in a statement. “The opportunity to support a book launch by such a beloved and successful Vermont author, while also helping to create social change for women in Africa, is the type of partnership we value as a Certified B Corporation. This project epitomizes the impact we all can make when we be the change we seek in the world.”
The Lioness Chocolate Bar becomes available on Tuesday, May 10 and will be sold at Phoenix Books, Norwich Bookstore, and Northshire Books in Vermont, LCC’s three company-owned retail stores, and online at lakechamplainchocolates.com. The bar’s SRP is $10 and includes a keepsake bookmark inside each package. With only 1,000 bars made, they will be available only until the last bar is sold.
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