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'''Madagascar is not widely known for its chocolate production, at least not in comparison to Switzerland or Belgium. But as chocolate experts already know, Madagascar is a high quality cocoa producing nation with that has two major bean-to-bar chocolate factories , making premium quality chocolate with using high quality cocoa that grow exclusively in the [[Ambanja ]] region in the northwest of the country.'''
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In fact, Madagascar has a long history of chocolateproduction, dating back to the early years ofthe French colonial times, 1937 to be precise. In those daysto a metropolitan France, Madagascar was a majorcocoa exporter. Today Madagascar's cocoa production istiny in comparison to the Ivory Coast which produceabout 38% of the world's cocoa, while almost all cocoa grownin Madagascar come from an area about 50-kilometre in radiusand represent less than one percent of the world's cocoa production.The area is [[Sambirano]], which is also the name of a river sourcedwith its source in the foothills of Madagascar's highest peak. The Sambirano riverbedand its surrounding cocoa plantations are enriched with nutrients inthe soil by yearly floods. Unlike many other nations cocoa producingregions, this area is unique in that it yields cocoa crop all year round.There is plenty of Criollo (the finest), Forastero (the most commonused for bulk cocoa) and Trinitario (a cross between the two).
Most if not all cocoa plantations in Madagascar are operated by smalland independent family-run farming businesses, who have been growing cocoa intheir natural environment for generations, without use of fertilisersand other mass farming techniques. Slave While slave labour is commonly reported in the cocoa industry, especially in the Ivory Coast,but it is non-existent in Madagascar. Much of Sambirano's cocoa grow on former fruit plantations thatwere in use during the French colonial period.The resulting result is a crop has with a unique and uniquely fruity flavour that that isnaturally sweet and especially suitable for producing non-bitter darkchocolate chocolates without having to use of excessive sugar contentand various unatural flavoring agents. The final product is generally rich inantioxidant flavoinoids, the healthy ingredientsfound in high proportions in pure Malagasy cocoa.
[[File:Cinagra 013.jpg|thumb|600px|none|Cinagra Tsar Noir 100%]].
[[Chocolaterie Robert]] and [[Cinagra]] are the only two bean-to-bar chocolateproducers in Madagascar. Their chocolate is of single Malagasy origin, meaningthey grow their cocoa and produce their chocolates in Madagascar.
Chocolaterie Robert dates back to 1937, when a French couple,Mr and Mrs Robert, set up Madagascar's first chocolate factory inBrickaville. Today Chocolaterie Robert's bars can be found everywherefrom small village shops to upmarket confectionery stores inmetropolitan areas. In 2006 Chocolaterie Robert's Mora Mora andSambirano brands respectively won the Chocolate Academy's SilverCup and the Best Buy Ethical Award.
The second largest and more recently established Malagasy chocolate maker, Cinagra,has been making chocolate at their [[Antananarivo]] based factory since 2006,also using single origin cocoa grown in the Sambirano region. In 2009 their 63% cocoa based Tsar bar won first price at the [http://www.salon-du-chocolat.com Salon de Chocolat Paris] in France and since 2008, Cinagra is producing chocolate for [[Madecasse]], a brand which is exported and sold primarily within US and Canada.
[[File:Chocolaterie Colbert 01.jpg|600px|thumb|none|The [[Chocolaterie Colbert]] team]]
Madagascar is not an heavily industrialised mass farming nation of any measure , and thus it's cocoa remainsrelatively short in supply. It's total production output accounts for less than 1% of the world's cocoa. Perhaps this explains why Robert's, Colbert's and Cinagra's Madagascar chocolates cannot easily be found outside of Madagascar. A good tip for anyone visiting the country: Buy and bring with you back home as many Robert, Cinagra and Colbert bars as your budget or suitcase will allow, because it's unlikely that you will find the same quality chocolate at a similar the same price anywhere else in the world!
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