FAQs

We get asked lots of questions about our chocolates and our business ethics. On this page we have tried to answer most of these.

If we haven't answered your question please contact us.

Should I Keep My Chocolate in the Fridge?

That depends on what the outside temperature and humidity are. A cool dry place is always preferable to a fridge. If room temperature is more than 25°C, it is probably advisable to put them in the fridge. Always wrap chocolate in plastic and seal carefully before refrigerating. Allow chocolate to return to room temperature before unwrapping and eating.

Nut Allergies

The only 100% guaranteed nut-free products that Rococo sells are the Grenada Chocolate Bars (60% and 71% dark chocolate). We do NOT claim any other products to be free from nut traces. This is because nut allergies can be fatal, and even the tiniest trace of nut can trigger an attack. There are many different processes in the transformation from cocoa bean to chocolate, and often nuts are used side by side for chocolate fillings etc. It is almost impossible to guarantee a truly nut free environment, and any such claims should be checked carefully.

Dairy Free & Vegan

All our dark chocolate products are vegan. (This does not include the figurines as they are backed with white chocolate.)

Which of Your Products Are Organic?

Rococo is certified by the Organic Food Federation (UK4) to produce and sell a number of organic items. These include most of the Artisan Bars and hand-made wafers. To see a full list of organic products, click here.

Why Are Some of the Artisan Bars Not Organic?

Many of our other bars and figurines are made using a base of organic chocolate because we prefer the taste of this chocolate! However, they cannot be sold as organic because of the other ingredients - for example, the edible dies in the figurines, and the gold leaf in the Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh bar.

Are Your Products Fair Trade?

Rococo does not currently hold any fair trade certification. However please read the answer to "Where does the chocolate come from?" to find out more about our ethical views!

Where Does the Chocolate Come From?

Approximately 90% of the chocolate covertures we currently use (both organic and non-organic) are bought from one manufacturer in Europe. This supplier does not own any plantations and buys most of its supplies from intermediaries so it is difficult, even for them, to be sure of the exact origin of most of their cocoa beans. Not least because cocoa is often grown on small holdings of which, in The Ivory Coast, there are around 700,000!

Since the original story broke in September 2000, our supplier has condemned slavery and abusive child labour practices in the strongest terms and the European Cocoa Association, of which our supplier is a member, is committed to sustainable development in cocoa producing countries and condemns child trafficking and exploitative child labour. ECA members conform to ethical practices in their respective operations, including those in Ivory Coast, where they apply working standards in line with or above the standards set by the International labour Organisation.

Rococo takes the view that the only way to be sure that we are producing a product with no hint of exploitation is to know the provenance of at least all the chocolate and confectionery that is produced in house. With this in mind we have been progressively strengthening our ties with the Caribbean island of Grenada and the The Grenada Chocolate Company. The organic chocolate which is produced here ensures a good price for the farmers and good wage for their labourers and the production of chocolate on the island actually reverses the usual terms of trade in spite of hostile conditions for conventional chocolate production.

In addition this year we have jointly bought a small cocoa plantation in Grenada on behalf of the Organic Cocoa regeneration Project which is to be managed by and provide raw cocoa for the Grenada Chocolate Company.

This will ensure we hope not only the future for organic cocoa and organic cocoa derived employment, but also a significant supply of bulk fine chocolate for Rococo and fine quality Grenada Chocolate Company chocolate bars.

Diabetic & Sugar-Free Products

Rococo provides a number of sugar free items. Please see our Sugar Free page for the full range. The sweetener used is Maltitol; Diabetics should always seek the advice of their doctor or dietician before eating chocolate.

What Is Maltitol?

Maltitol (E965) is a naturally occurring sugar, made from corn. It has 90% of the sweetness of sucrose (table sugar). It requires little or no insulin to metabolise, so is often recommended for use by diabetics. Maltitol does not promote tooth decay, and also has about half the calorific value of sucrose (2.1 Cal/g compared to 4.0 Cal/g). Visit www.maltitol.com to find out more!

Weddings, Baptisms & Special Occasions

The team at Rococo is happy to advise on the chocolates requirements for special events and can also arrange for customized packaging for the occasion. Contact Our Chocolate Fairy for more information.

Bespoke Chocolate Art

Rococo can make individual one-off art pieces in our kitchen created by the chocolatier-in-residence. Each project will be led, designed and made by our team with our chocolatier.

Special moulds can also be made; we recently made the chocolates for the promotion of Paul McCartney's new album WINGSPAN. We need a little warning to do this - as much as possible in fact!

Health Benefits

The latest news about chocolate - that it makes blood vessels more flexible - adds to accumulating evidence that chocolate offers a number of health benefits and may be good for the heart. Earlier findings had shown that chocolate contains polyphenols, the same kinds of antioxidants found in red wine and green tea; stearic acid, a type of fat that doesn't raise cholesterol levels; and flavonoids, which reduce the stickiness of platelets, inhibiting blood clotting and reducing the danger of coronary artery blockages. Read more here.