Happy Valentine's Day!!
Even though I make my own raw chocolate, it is my joy to order chocolate off the internet, + buy fancy raw chocolates around town.
I thought it would be fun to share with you, my personal favorite brands of Chocolate for Valentine's Day:
1) Lagusta's Luscious: This is a gourmet/ artisan vegan chocolate company out of upstate New York, New Paltz to be exact.
Wild blends include: Blood Orange, Thyme Caramel, Rosemary Sea Salt, + even Chocolates named after famous Feminists. I keep buying these as gifts + having them shipped, but have yet to try them myself (what's up with that??!!) This is a woman-owned company, + the owner (Lagusta) seems to be a total master of her craft, tuned into wild/ fair-trade/ local/ artisan/ microscopic details, + all around an amazing human being!
I would welcome anything off her website as a gift, just saying ;) !! .... P.O. Box 92841 Long Beach, CA 90809 I'm not playing! ;)
2) Coracao Confections: I know + love the owners of this raw chocolate company, but before I knew the owners, I knew I LOVED these chocolates! These are a raw foodist's dream come true: You can order yourself a REAL box of chocolates, + have it all be raw! Truly amazing! Varieties include: "Rolo"-style chocolate-covered caramel, rose petal chocolate truffles, + a version of a raw vegan "Snickers" bar. I ordered myself a fancy box online once, + it was such a gift of Self-Love. Now I am lucky to see them around in California, they even have candy bars too! ;)
3) Sacred Chocolate: I don't understand how these are raw or healthy, because they are the silkiest, dreamiest, creamiest chocolates I've ever tasted. Bonus is they come in the shape of a giant heart. Oh my gosh. Melt-in-your-mouth, creamy, amazing. Raw Vegan "Milk" Chocolate, Gogi, Nibs, Indian spices, Chinese immunity mushrooms, are some of the flavors you'll find. Love, Love, Love. + I know this owner too, + he is a total sweetheart. I believe his love + craft really is Sacred.
4) Hot Love Chocolate Truffles: Well of course these are my favorite! + They are the once I eat the most! (Did you know I love eating the chocolates I make?!!) Hot Love Chocolate Truffles have evolved over time: they started out with almonds ground in the food processor, then moved to using almond butter, then acquired the gogi berries, then the nibs, then the pinch of spice + sea salt. I've been told they are like a raw "Godiva" truffle + just recently my friend + chocolate client Danielle said they were "the best thing I've ever put in my mouth." They did win the 2014 Best of Raw Awards, after all. ;)
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Whatever you are doing for Valentine's Day, I hope you honor yourself first: whether it be taking a hot bath with rose petals, going foraging for wildflowers around your neighborhood, writing yourself a card, sealing it, + then later in the day, opening it, or indulging in some delicious + guilt-free chocolate.
I also hope you get extra hugs + loving today, + who knows, maybe even a tantric chocolate ceremony awaits....
So Much Love + Gratitude for YOU,
x
Debra.
P.S. For you locals, Ecstatic Dance LA is back, this Sunday, February 15th. If you didn't get all the loving (or chocolate) you were hoping for, do not fear! I will be there with Hot Love Chocolate Truffles, Cacao Elixir Drinks, Lemon Bars, Raw Vegan Spaghetti + Meatballs, + some amazing Green Juices + Smoothies that you will LOVE.
Dancing is SOO therapeutic to the soul, especially when you can dance however you want, wearing whatever you want, + take a 10 minute break on a massage table, pulling Doreen Virtue cards, or buying an Irish Moss shake....
See you on the Dance Floor!