OUR STORY
The idea of Avanaa was born a few years ago on a trip to Mexico. Indeed, in Oaxaca City, we walked every day in front of tiny workshops crafting chocolate from cacao beans growing in the region. Stepping into one of these workshops, we realized how we knew absolutely nothing about chocolate making (even though we ate chocolate every single day). That's when we asked ourselves : "Making chocolate from cacao beans... why not in Montreal?"
North. Who comes from the North.
- avanaa/avani in Inuktitut
To produce really delicious chocolate, one must first find outstanding cacao. This is why Cath quit her geologist job in the James Bay region to pursue her quest to find the best cacao plantations. She filled her backpack and left for one year to discover cacao plantations across the world: Indonesia, Honduras, Colombia, Peru, etc. She got to learn all the challenges facing little farms struggling to get their fair share from their outstanding cacao beans. Back in Montreal (with 23kg of Peruvian cacao hidden in her backpack), she starts to experiment with the cacao beans. Roasting, grinding, conching, tempering and all over again until everything in her apartment got soaked in cacao aromas. All this work so that you can experience the distinct flavors of single origin bean-to-bar chocolate right here in Montreal. To name her company, Cath paid tribute to Nunavut where she worked for many years: Avanaa means coming from the North in Inuktitut. Hopefully, no need to go to Iqaluit to taste our chocolate, visit us in Montreal. Gloire au cacao!
MISSION
Unfortunately, there is not enough sun to grow cocoa in our northern regions. That's why we import our cocoas from small farms and cooperatives in Latin America. Then, all the steps to transform the cocoa into chocolate are done in our factory in the Villeray district. It is by controlling each of these stages, from fermentation of the cocoa to tempering and roasting, that we are able to produce chocolate of unrivaled quality. Buying our chocolate may not save the world, but by encouraging sustainable agriculture and direct trade with cacaoteros - the farmers of cocoa plantations - we (and you) are making a small contribution to a better world. In any case, by making excellent chocolate from bean to bar, we are convinced that we are contributing to your daily happiness, and that's already a win.