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'''Madagascar is not widely known for its chocolate brands, at least not in the way that Switzerland or Belgium are. But as most chocolate experts would probably agree, Madagascar is a high quality cocoa producing nation boasting two major bean-to-bar chocolate factories, making especially delicious dark chocolate from natural and organic cocoa grown in the northwest [[Ambanja]] region of the country.'''
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[[File:Cinagra 070.jpg|thumb|600px|none|Crushed Malagasy cocoa with splinters of cocoa nibs ready for processing into liquid chocolate]]
Most if not all cocoa plantations in Madagascar are operated by small independently run family farming businesses, who have been growing cocoa without use of fertilisers and other mass farming methods in ther their natural environment for generations. While slave labour is commonly reported in the cocoa industry, especially in the Ivory Coast, it is non-existent in Madagascar. Much of Sambirano's cocoa grow on former fruit plantations from the French colonial period. The resulting cocoa has strong hints of fruit flavour and is naturally sweet, which makes it especially suitable for producing non-bitter dark chocolates without use of excessive sugar content or other additives. Furthermore, the final chocolate product is usually one that is rich in antioxidant flavoinoids, the healthy and reputedly aphrodisiac ingredients that can be found in high proportions in pure Malagasy cocoa. <!--(phenylethylamine??)-->
[[Chocolaterie Robert]] and [[Cinagra]] are the only two bean-to-bar chocolate producers in Madagascar. Their chocolate is of single Malagasy origin, meaning they both grow their own cocoa and produce their chocolates in Madagascar.
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The more recently established Cinagra, has been making chocolate at their [[Antananarivo]] based factory since 2006, also using single origin cocoa grown on plantations in the Sambirano region. In 2009 their 63% cocoa based Tsar bar won first price at the prestigious [http://www.salon-du-chocolat.com Salon de Chocolat Paris] in France and since 2008, they are producing chocolate for [[MadecasseMadécasse]], a brand which is exported and sold primarily within US and Canada.