raw cacao

What is Raw Chocolate?

A question that we often get asked is "What is raw chocolate?" It's no wonder really, given that it's relatively new in the Western consciousness. After looking round the website, I realised that it's not actually something I go in to that much detail about. So here's my definitive blog post on the subject.

raw cacao podThe generally held view is that raw chocolate, in the context of what we do round these parts, relates to two key aspects. Both fundamental to raw chocolate and both fundamentally different to your average chocolate product.

To temper or not to temper, that is the question

When making conventional chocolate, it is usual to carry out a process called tempering. This is essentially a process of heating then cooling your liquid chocolate, which changes the structure and properties of the finished product. When making raw chocolate, such as our basic raw chocolate recipe, this tempering stage is usually missed out.

Bristol Festival of Nature for Fathers Day

We've been invited along to the Bristol Festival of Nature and are delighted to be part of the Green Market at this weekends event.

The UK's largest free celebration of the natural world, the Bristol Festival of Nature gives wildlife enthusiasts of all ages the opportunity to explore, enjoy and get close to the natural world in the heart of the city!

bristol festival of nature

Amazing new products now available

No one likes to sit on their laurels (sounds painful to me anyway!) and the same can be said for us here at Elements for Life. So we're pleased to announce the launch of a range of new products available now for your delight and delectation.

Raw Chocolate Making Ingredients

raw chocolate making ingredients

Raw chocolate hitting the mainstream

We don't own a telly, in fact we haven't done for about 3 years now, which means that often, the first we hear about something is from folks when we're out doing our events. Such a case happened this weekend, when we had 3 or 4 people asking us specifically for raw cacao powder and mentioned Hugh F-W's River Cottage programme on Channel 4.

Lip Smacking Chocolate Festival video

The silly season that is Christmas is well and truly upon us here at Elements for Life, with lots of events already under our belt and many many more lined up for the next few weeks. You can find out more on our where to buy page or by signing up to our newsletter.

Lip Smacking Chocolate Festival in Frome next weekend

In a little over a week we'll be at the Lip Smacking Chocolate Festival in Frome. Last years event was our very first, only 10 days after we launched, so in many ways it's our anniversary party!

As part of the build up, those lovely folks at Lip Smacking have produced a short video and we're featured in it. You need to watch the whole thing as we're the last exhibitor to be featured and I manage to end proceedings with a timeless quote.

Reflections on a year of madness!

My doesn't time fly and would you believe that we're celebrating one year today!

That's right folks, it's been a full 12 months since we started this hair brained, wild ride that is Elements for Life. Though if I'm honest I do jest about it being hair brained (and where did that expression come from?!) as it's been anything but. Endlessly surprising, fun, exciting, scary and down right silly at times would be closer to the mark!

Halloween Raw Chocolate Fondue!

Just a quick little bit of cacao silliness for you before bedtime on this Samhain night.

Earlier on this evening I constructed the first ever Halloween Raw Chocolate Fondue; I kid you not...!

halloween raw chocolate fondueIn true Halloween style, the process goes something like:

Don't go naked, go raw

Another guest post for you today folks, this time by one of our lovely customers, Jacqui Malpass.


When we decide to change our diets often our favourite food is the first thing on our minds and the hardest to give up.

I was a dedicated dark chocolate scoffer and even convinced myself that a bar of Green and Blacks or Lindt a day with a healthy top up of dark chocolate digestives was good for me.

Coming off processed sugar and not eating dark chocolate was a mare, until I was introduced to raw chocolates.  A friend suggested that I try some of hers, they were ok but not really what I was looking for.

However, intrigued I went off in my usual style and bought some random ingredients and attempted to make chocolates.

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