Dark Forest Chocolate
Chocolate has a story to tell—from the cacao farms where beans are grown to the bar you unwrap. At Dark Forest Chocolate Makers in Lancaster, NY, that story is honored with every step of their bean-to-bar process.
Founded by Dan and Lyndsay Cox, Dark Forest Chocolate is Western New York’s first bean-to-bar chocolate maker, and their mission is simple: make world-class chocolate while supporting ethical sourcing and sustainable farming. Every bar begins with carefully selected cacao beans from small farms and cooperatives around the world. By working directly with growers and paying fair prices, Dark Forest helps strengthen cacao communities while ensuring quality beans for their chocolate.
Once the beans arrive in Lancaster, the real magic begins. Dark Forest roasts, grinds, and refines each batch in-house, controlling every step of the process to highlight the natural flavors of the cacao. Unlike commercial chocolate, which often tastes flat and overly sweet, bean-to-bar chocolate reveals unique tasting notes—floral, nutty, fruity, or earthy—depending on the bean’s origin.
Their bars often feature single-origin cacao, letting customers explore how terroir shapes flavor, much like wine or coffee. They also experiment with inclusions like local maple sugar, sea salt, or spices, creating bars that are both sophisticated and deeply satisfying.
Supporting Dark Forest Chocolate means embracing transparency and sustainability in chocolate-making. It’s about knowing where your food comes from, valuing small-batch craft, and building a fairer global food system. And because they’re local, every bar purchased also strengthens Western New York’s artisan food culture.
Through FreshFix, you can bring home chocolate that’s as ethical as it is delicious. Every bite of Dark Forest tells a bigger story—one of farmers, makers, and communities connected through chocolate.
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