Feb 28 : Written by 404EthanNotFound
Ethical and Delicious
I am not someone who is ever in a rush to travel. I do not need lavish vacations to exotic locations, spending an arm and a leg in a tourist trap (not to mention the recent uptick in aviation disasters). I much prefer to explore my own backyard, especially now that I live in Northern Virginia. Back in my rural New Jersey days, I always had to travel quite a ways to get to anything of note. I try and make up for lost time by exploring new businesses and interesting spots in my area. You truly never know what you are going to find. Luckily for me, I found River-Sea Chocolates in Chantilly, VA.
My family visited me for Thanksgiving this past year. While they were visiting I wanted to take them to a myriad of local places and events. In my research in anticipation of the holiday visit, I discovered River-Sea Chocolates and saw that I could make reservations for a specialized chocolate tasting. I signed my family up not knowing what to expect. I was met with a delicious journey of five different types of artisan chocolates ranging from dark to milk chocolate. The variety on offer was absolutely insane. The effort they put into the process was obvious. My entire family agreed that this was a hidden gem.
River-Sea Chocolates gives me hope. Their dedication to putting people over profits is obvious, and they can simultaneously deliver the best tasting chocolate I have had in my entire life. The folks at River-Sea demonstrate sustainable business practices that put the rest of the chocolate industry to shame. I am a staunch opponent of exploitation and it is clear that the folks at River-Sea are as well. Whether it is ensuring that the cacao suppliers are compensated a living wage, or shipping their beans via sail power to have a net-zero carbon footprint, these folks have proven that a good product does not necessitate exploitation.
I do hope that you support these folks if you have the opportunity. It is an excellent date night idea, solo adventure, or group activity (I’ve personally done all three). They have a chocolate lover’s subscription where you can receive special chocolate flavors that may never hit the shelves. I have gifted their products to much success and I am always glad to support small business. I will not be buying chocolate anywhere else ever again!
Visit their site by clicking the link: