Changes

'''There are Madagascar is not widely known for making chocolate, at least not like the chocolate nations of Switzerland and Belgium. But as most chocolate experts know well, Madagascar is a high quality cocoa producing nation boasting two major bean-to-bar chocolate manufacturers in Madagascarfactories, [[Chocolaterie Robert]] making especially dark and above all delicious chocolates from naturally organic cacao grown in the northwest [[CinagraAmbanja]]. Both companies produce premium quality chocolate made with cocoa grown exclusively in Madagascarregion of the country.'''

{| class="imageTablecaptionTable" style="border-spacing: 4px;"

|colspan="3" | [[File:Chocolaterie Robert 024.jpg|600px599px]]

|style="padding: 2px 0px 0px 0px;"|[[File:Chocolaterie Robert 018027.jpg|196px195px]]|align="center" style="padding: 2px 2px 0px 2px;"|[[File:Chocolaterie Robert 019.jpg|196px195px]]|align="right" style="padding: 2px 0px 2px 0px;"|[[File:Chocolaterie Robert 020.jpg|196px195px]]

|[[File:Chocolaterie Robert 021.jpg|196px]]|aligncolspan="center3"|[[File:Chocolaterie Robert 022Magnify-clip.jpgpng|196px]]right|alignlink="right"|[[File:Chocolaterie Robert 025Chocolaterie_Robert_024.jpg|196px]]|-|[[File:Chocolaterie Pralines sold at one of Robert 026.jpg|196px]]|align="center"|'s ''[[File:Chocolaterie Robert 027.jpg|196pxLa Chocolatière]]|align="right"|'' boutiques in [[File:Chocolaterie Robert 028.jpg|196pxAntananarivo]]

Madagascar has in fact a long history of chocolate production, dating back to the French colonial times, 1937 to be precise. In those days, Madagascar was a major cocoa exporter in supplying a metropolitan France. Today Madagascar's cocoa production is tiny in comparison to for example Ivory Coast, which produces about 38% of the world's cocoa. Almost all cacao grown in Madagascar come from an area about 50 kilometres in radius and represents less than 1% of the world's cocoa production. The cacao plantations can be found in the [[File:Cinagra 013Sambirano]] region within the Ambanja district.jpg|thumb|600px|none|Cinagra Tsar Noir 100%The area is named after the Sambirano River which runs from the foothills of Madagascar's highest peak [[Maromokotro]]through the Sambirano Valley and the countryside and eventually into the Indian Ocean. Due to natural sesonal flooding of the river, the soil along the Sambirano riverbed and its surrounding cacao plantations are highly enriched with minerals and nutrients. Unlike cacao producing regions in other countries, the Sambirano region is unique in that it yields cacao all year round. There are plenty of Criollo (the highest quality cacao beans), Forastero (the most commonly found variety) and Trinitario (a cross between Criollo and Forastero).

Additionally, [[Chocolaterie Colbert]] is a brand File:Cinagra 070.jpg|thumb|600px|none|Crushed Malagasy cocoa with splinters of handmade pralines and cocoa nibs ready for processing into liquid chocolate bars sold only at Pâtisserie Colbert in [[Antananarivo]], using ingredients supplied by [[Chocolaterie Robert]] and [[Cinagra]]. While Colbert's chocolate costs more than other Malagasy chocolate, their chocolate creations made by a small team of dedicated chocolatiers are always sold fresh at the counter and make ideal gifts.

[[File:Chocolaterie Colbert 01Most cacao plantations in Madagascar are small farms run by families who have been growing cacao in their natural environment without use of fertilisers and mass farming methods for generations. While slave labour is commonly reported in the cacao industry, especially in Ivory Coast, it is non-existent in Madagascar. Much of Sambirano's cacao trees stand on former fruit plantations dating back to the French colonial times.jpg|600px|thumb|none|The [[Chocolaterie Colbert]] team]]resulting cocoa has hints of citrus fruit and is naturally sweet, which makes the Malagasy cocoa especially suitable for production of non-bitter dark chocolate without use of excessive sugar content or other additives. Furthermore, the final Madagascar chocolate product is usually rich in antioxidant flavoinoids as well as other healthy and reputedly aphrodisiac ingredients found in high proportions in pure Malagasy cacao. <!--(phenylethylamine??)-->

''Additional information:''* [[Chocolaterie Robert]]* and [[Cinagra]]* [[Chocolaterie Colbert]]are the only two bean-to-bar chocolate producers in Madagascar. Their chocolates are of single origin, using cacao grown in Madagascar with their products made and packaged entirely in Madagascar.

FurthermoreChocolaterie Robert dates back to 1937, when a French couple, Mr and Mrs Robert, set up Madagascar's first chocolate factory in [[MadécasseBrickaville]] is a chocolate brand produced and packaged . Today, Chocolaterie Robert's bars can be found everywhere in Madagascar by , from small village shops to upmarket confectionery stores in metropolitan areas. In 2006 Chocolaterie Robert's ''Mora Mora'' and ''Sambirano'' brands respectively won the Chocolate Academy's Silver Cup and the Best Buy Ethical Award. In 2013 Robert launched a range of bars branded [[CinagraChocolat Madagascar]] intended mainly for export to the US and Canada.

[[File:Madecasse_0001Cinagra 013.jpg|thumb|600px|none|Madécasse Cinagra Tsar Noir 100%]] {|style="width:608px;border-collapse:collapse;border:0px solid green;padding:0px;"|-|style="padding:0px;"|[[File:Chocolaterie Robert 023.jpg|292px|thumb|none|Chocolaterie Robert's headquarter and factory in Antananarivo]]|style="padding:0px;"|[[File:Chocolaterie Robert 044.jpg|292px|thumb|none|Chocolaterie Robert's 61% cocoa, kaffir lime and Fleur de Sel bar and the 68% cocoa bar with cocoa nibs]]|-|style="padding:0px;"|[[File:Cinagra 038.jpg|292px|thumb|none|Malagasy workers at the Cinagra factory packaging fine chocolate bars by hand]]|style="padding:0px;"|[[File:Cinagra 073.jpg|292px|thumb|none|Cinagra's 72% cocoa Tsar bar with 70roasted cocoa nibs and its 44% cocoavariety with natural vanilla]]|}

Companies and brands The more recently established Chocolaterie Cinagra has been making chocolate at their [[Antananarivo]] based factory since 2006, also using single origin cacao grown on plantations within the Sambirano region. In 2009 their 63% cocoa grown based ''Tsar'' bar won first price at the [http://www.salon-du-chocolat.com Salon de Chocolat Paris] in Madagascar whose France. Since 2008, Cinagra produces chocolate is made outside Madagascar include:for [[Madécasse]] - a US importer and brand, sold primarily in the US and Canada as well as Germany.

* [A third, smaller but nonetheless appreciated Madagascar chocolate brand is [Patric Chocolate]]* [[Amano Chocolate|Amano Artisan ChocolateChocolaterie Colbert]]* [[Coppeneur Chocolate]]* [http://www.lindt.com/au/noswf/eng/products/excellence/excellenceAlthough they do not buy and process cacao beans directly from farmers and can therefore not be classified a bean-to-madagascar Lindt] (Excellence Madagascar range).* [http://www.ilovao.com VAO VAO]* [http://www.roguechocolatier.com/bar producer, Colbert's recipes are their own and since they do buy processed cocoa from both Chocolaterie Robert and Cinagra, their final products-page Sambirano] by Rougue Chocolatierare of single Malagasy origin.* [[J.D. Gross Madagaskar]]* Colbert's highly priced range of pralines and chocolate bars is sold only at the [[MadangaPâtisserie Colbert]] by Rausch Schokolade.* in Antananarivo, part of [[Pierre Hermé ParisHotel Colbert]] has a 75% Madagascar cocoa chocolate.* [http://www.chocolate-Their bars.co.uk/lightlyand pralines, handmade and gift-salted-pistachio-milk-chocolate-block Thorntons] 32% Madagascar cocoa bar.* [http://www.chocolatereviews.co.uk/madagascar-75-single-origin-dark-chocolate/ Pralus] 75% Madagascar cocoa barwrapped by a small team of talented chocolatiers, are always fresh at the counter and make ideal presents for special occasions.<br clear="all">

[[File:Madanga 05Chocolaterie Colbert 01.jpg|600px|thumb|600px|none|[[MadangaChocolaterie Colbert's dedicated team of chocolatiers proudly presenting their freshly made pralines]] bar  Madagascar is not a highly industrialised nation by Rausch any measure, including its farming methods. Malagasy cacao therefore remains relatively short in supply. Perhaps this is why Madagascar's chocolate brands are not easily found in stores outside Madagascar. In fact, at the time of writing, chocolate brands made as well as sold in Madagascar are available only in Germanya few select stores in France, South Africa and Japan.]]A tip for anyone visiting the large island: Bring as many of Robert's, Cinagra's and Colbert's bars and pralines as possible back home, as you will not likely find as high quality chocolate at as reasonable prices elsewhere in the world!

Visit the individual pages about the three Madagascar chocolate makers: * http://www.thenibble.com/reviews/MAIN/[[Chocolaterie Robert]]* [[Cinagra|Chocolaterie Cinagra]]* [[Chocolaterie Colbert]] If you can't buy chocolate in Madagascar, various chocolate makers in other countries offer [[Chocolate makers using Madagascar cocoa|Madagascar cocoa based chocolate/lindt-excellence]], either made from bean to bar or from pre-crushed cocoa exported from Madagascar. However, such brands are mostly available in specialised gourmet chocolatestores, usually at relatively high prices.asp* http://www.brandchannel.com/features_profile.asp?pr_id== External link ==481 * http://www.bbcmadagascar-tribune.co.ukcom/news/healthKKO-International-met-le-cap-10986625sur,22293.html