A number of chocolate companies have emerged in Ghana and are now manufacturing chocolates, developing a new generation of talented chocolatiers and local industry in the process. Cocoa production in Ghana is of pivotal importance to the economy, as the West African country is the second largest producer in the world.

The Ghanaian chocolate sector is experiencing swift changes, especially due to the decision of Ghana’s president Nana Akufo-Addo to no longer sell cocoa to Switzerland.

Could switching to buying local Ghanaian chocolate brands help local farmers and empower the local industry? Yes it can! Take a look at the local ghanaian chocolate brands you should be buying right now. Let’s dive in!

Best ghanaian chocolate brands

57 chocolate

57 chocolate is a high-end chocolate brand run by two Pan-African sisters, Kimberley and Priscilla. The company’s name pays homage to the year 1957, when Ghana gained political independence from England and acknowledges her country’s growing economic independence from the chocolate manufacturing industry.

The inspiration came from a visit to a Swiss chocolate factory which made them realize that Switzerland was making great chocolate with Ghanaian cacao beans. This made them reflect upon the idea of if Switzerland could make great chocolate using Ghana’s resources, why couldn’t they do the same in their own country? That is when they returned to Ghana and started to learn how to make chocolate from their own home kitchen.

All of their chocolate is 100% natural, containing no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. You can also try their selection of chocolates infused with local ingredients like coconut, mocha, hibiscus and moringa leaf, apart from the traditional dark, milk, white chocolates. Moringa, in powder form, is one of the most widely used ghanaian cooking ingredients.

The sisters also wanted to reflect some of Ghana’s culture in their chocolate, the reason why they made what they called the “adinkra chocolate”, bite-sized chocolate pieces engraved with Adinkra symbols created by the Ashanti of Ghana. The symbols on the ’57 Chocolate squares represent beauty, humility, strength, and resourcefulness.

Fairafrik

Fairafrik is actually the result of a successful Kickstarter campaign launched in 2016, through which they were able to produce their first batch of chocolate.

Founded by German social entrepreneur Hendrik Reimer, he had the idea to produce chocolate in Africa while talking to a roadside coffee maker in Uganda in 2013. Hendrik later met Yayra Glover, a Switzerland-trained Ghanian lawyer who turned to organic cocoa as a way of providing better livelihoods for Ghanaian farmers.

Their meeting created a partnership that led to the production of Ghana’s first organic chocolate products. Their current aim is to produce world-class chocolate while increasing Africa’s share of the entire value chain in the chocolate manufacturing industry.

They have come a very long way in the chocolate manufacturing journey and have now gained ground in Europe particularly in Germany, currently producing around 1,500 chocolate bars per day! Not only that but they have also managed to create a new product line called Amanase, which is a handmade delicacy from their own chocolaterie with the first formal chocolate school in Ghana.

Midunu Chocolates

Founded by Atadika in 2014, whilst working for the UN she traveled to over 40 African countries and observed the big role food plays within a culture, how it ties people together to create economies and solve social issues.

This is what inspired her to start taking courses at the Culinary Institute of America and start her chocolate business in Ghana. One of her main aims was to honor her Ghanaian roots and share the beauty of African ingredients with chocolate lovers through truffles and drinking chocolate.

Midunu Chocolates inspires itself in different African women who are culinary custodians throughout the continent. Each truffle is named after one of these women. The name “miduno” comes from the Ewe language. Before starting to eat a meal, Ewe people say “Midunu” which means “Let us eat”. Atadika loves that philosophy and wanted it to be reflected in her business.

Their chocolates feature the flavors and essences of Africa. They purchase their herbs and spices from local producers, farmers and market women. Some of the herbs are actually grown in their own garden.

Bioko Treats

Bioko Treats is proudly owned by a Barry Callebaute trained, female Artisanal Chocolatier: Jeanne Donkoh. Apart from her involvement in the hotel industry, her home has been the location for large and small family gatherings because of her great meals. Although praised for the quality of her meals, her chocolate desserts got the best compliments. That is when Jeanne decided to retire from the hotel industry and pursue Bioko Treats.

Bioko Treats takes its name from the island in Equatorial Guinea where Tetteh Quarshie, “The man who brought cocoa to Ghana”, first discovered the cocoa bean. The chocolates come to life from Jeanne’s cozy home in Osu, the reason why the production is made in small batches.

Broke offers chocolate bars as well as boxes with bonbons & pralines. They utilize Ghanaian cocoa alongside a variety of flavors such as ginger, coffee, rum, coconut, caramel and others.

They like to define their chocolate as their Akɔnɔdiɛ which means desirable and connotes sweetness – describing perfectly Bioko’s desire to bring sweet delicacies to its customers.

Ohene Cocoa

Ohene Cocoa was founded by Nana Aduna II, the 1st Ghanaian farmer to have grown cocoa and successfully registered a cocoa food product other than chocolate and cocoa powder. In December 2017, Nana started experimenting with the idea of producing cacao nibs from his cocoa beans and this subsequently led to the birth of the Ohene Cocoa brand.

Now Ohene Cocoa doesn’t just offer chocolate (cocoa nibs, cocoa crunch, chocolate bars, bonbons, drink, etc) but it also offers a range of other products from cocoa wine (made from the fermented cocoa beans), to cocoa candles!