ChocoSol Traders isn't just a chocolate company, it's a movement. Founded in 2004 in Oaxaca, Mexico, and based in Ontario since 2006, ChocoSol operates as a learning community social enterprise dedicated to creating what they call a 'socially just, equitable, and ecological food system', one stone-ground chocolate bar at a time.

Their Dundas Chocolate Shop, located at 50 King Street West, is where you can experience the full ChocoSol philosophy up close. But you don't have to travel to Dundas — their Ben Prowse brings the entire ChocoSol experience to the Burlington Farmers' Market several days a week.

Bean-to-Bar, With Purpose

ChocoSol sources their cacao directly from farmers and cooperatives in southern Mexico and beyond, through what they call 'horizontally traded' relationships, long-term, equitable partnerships that put money directly into the hands of growers and their communities. These cacao beans are then roasted, winnowed, and ground using volcanic stone, an ancient technique that preserves the antioxidants, iron, and magnesium naturally present in cacao.

The result is chocolate that is bold, full-bodied, and genuinely nutritious. Their product line includes everything from the classic 65% dark Vanilla Sea Salt bar to the adventurous 5 Chili Bullet, the seasonal Mon Cherry D'Amour, and the remarkable 80% Jaguar Crunch made from rare albino cacao beans. Every bar is free from dairy, soy, nuts, gluten, and preservatives.

More Than a Chocolate Bar

ChocoSol also offers single-origin coffees sourced through the same direct relationships, as well as Mexican-style drinking chocolate that has earned a devoted following. Their bike-powered cacao grinder at their St. Lawrence Market boutique has become a symbol of the company's playful, purposeful approach to food.

When you buy a bar of ChocoSol at the Burlington Farmers' Market, you're participating in something larger than a transaction, you're supporting farmers in Mexico, sustainable land stewardship, and a vision for what the chocolate industry could look like if done with integrity.

Find ChocoSol Traders at the Burlington Farmers' Market on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Visit chocosoltraders.com or the Dundas Chocolate Shop at dundaschocolate.ca.