What is your shipping policy?

Warm weather policy starts April 19, 2021: We want you to receive your chocolate in perfect condition and as quickly as possible. In warm weather, we ship on Mondays and Tuesdays (and Wednesday if the destination is close enough to guarantee arrival before the weekend). We add insulation and an ice pack at no charge, and we strongly encourage you to choose an expedited shipping method if your order is traveling outside of New England. We cannot be responsible for chocolate that is heat-damaged when you open it, so please have someone be home when your package is expected to arrive or provide a safe, cool delivery spot. We may need to delay shipment altogether if the weather is too hot here or there, and will notify you if this happens. You will receive an email when your package ships. We do not ship internationally at this time.

What is your return policy?

Your chocolate is shipped in perfect condition and, as described above, we take every precaution to make sure it arrives in perfect condition as well. If it is damaged in transit, we will gladly replace it but cannot refund shipping costs. We cannot accept the return or exchange of chocolate that was received intact. Having said that, if you are unhappy with your order, we hope you will reach out to us. Our products are created for you, and we want to hear if we need to make changes to our product, our shipping methods, or anything else in order to keep you as a happy customer.

How should I store my chocolate?

Best is to keep it between 65 and 70 degrees and in low humidity (less than 55%) and darkness, like a pantry or cupboard. Refrigeration is a good choice as long as you first put it in something else with as little air as possible such as a baggie with the air forced out. Please let it come to room temperature before enjoying it. Hot temperatures as well as big swings in temperature make chocolate “bloom” or go out of temper, meaning the cocoa butter separates from the cocoa solids. When this happens, although there is nothing wrong with the chocolate, it will have chalky whitish/greyish patterns (that’s the cocoa butter) and a different mouthfeel. When stored in ideal conditions, your chocolate can be enjoyed long after you got it, but we like it the most when it’s as fresh as possible.

It refers to the percentage of cacao by weight in the finished chocolate. Because Tangle Chocolate has only two ingredients, you know that our chocolate consists of 70% cacao and 30% sugar.

Do you make other kinds of chocolate besides 70% dark?

Not right now...but what do you think we should make next? Please let us know!

What's the big deal about Tangle Chocolate being freshly made?

Some foods improve with age, such as wine and many cheeses. Others lose some of their taste over time. We find that the flavors in chocolate mellow. Now, this may not concern you, and you may have been perfectly content your whole life with chocolate that arrived in a shop perhaps many months before you purchased it. But we invite you to try our chocolate and see if you notice a difference in the number and quality of distinct flavors straight from the cacao bean that you can taste.

Is Tangle Chocolate single-origin? And what does that mean?

Yes, Tangle Chocolate is single origin. That means that all of the cacao beans used in our chocolate are from the same region. Those cacao trees experience the same soil, weather, altitude and so on that contribute to the distinct flavor of the chocolate. Tangle Chocolate uses cacao beans from a single region of Guatemala, the Cahabón region.

What's the difference between bean-to-bar and craft or artisan chocolate?

These words, along with other ones like "small batch" and "handcrafted," are used in an attempt to differentiate specialty chocolate from large-maker industrial chocolate. However, none of them has a legal definition in the U.S., so their presence on a label doesn't necessarily guarantee anything, which can be confusing and even misleading. Bean-to-bar chocolate means that the maker started with cacao beans, did all of the roasting and refining in house, and ended up with the finished chocolate. That describes Tangle Chocolate. Very large companies technically can be bean-to-bar chocolate makers too, but the term is generally used to describe small chocolate makers like us. The terms “craft” and “artisan” imply that the chocolate was made by a small company with lots of human involvement in the process, whether or not the chocolate is bean to bar...but again, without a legal definition, it's hard for us as consumers to know what "small" is. Industrial chocolate makers have noticed consumer interest in craft products, and some now use words like "craft" and "artisan" on their labels. In addition, while some “craft” or “artisan” chocolate companies are also bean to bar, others buy ready-made chocolate, melt it and perhaps add special touches, and then remold and package it with their label. If you're unsure about a chocolate company's label language, call them and ask any questions you have.

Is your chocolate certified organic?

Not at this time. Although the cacao beans and sugar that we currently use are certified organic, we have chosen not to go through the process to be certified organic as a company. This enables us to keep the door open in the future to using non-certified organic beans that we love. We understand that sometimes a farmer can't meet the costs and administrative duties associated with getting and maintaining organic certification even though their products are up to organic standards.

Is Tangle Chocolate Fair Trade?

No. We are committed to paying more than the Fair Trade price standards and to meeting or surpassing any ethical standards you can think of. We buy our cacao beans from good people who know their many small farmers (average farm size: 2.5 acres) and are super transparent about their practices and finances.

Is Tangle Chocolate vegan?

Yes! The only two ingredients are certified organic cacao beans and certified organic cane sugar.

Is Tangle Chocolate kosher?

Yes! Our chocolate is certified kosher by the Massachusetts Kosher Commission.

Is Tangle Chocolate gluten free?

Yes! There are only two ingredients in our chocolate, organic cocoa beans and organic sugar, both of which are gluten free, so our chocolate is gluten free.

Chocolate News | Tangle Chocolate

Mar 18, 2021

The Rich Chocolate History of Massachusetts

Massachusetts is known for many mouth-watering treats from baked beans to cream pie. But it also has a rich history of chocolate which includes the invention of chocolate chip cookies, white chocolate, Baker's chocolate...and has an interesting cameo appearance by the one and only Paul Revere!

Feb 18, 2021

We were interviewed on the radio!

On February 8, 2021, Bob Flaherty of WHMP radio in Northampton, Massachusetts invited me, Suzanne Forman, the founder of Tangle Chocolate, to sit down with him for a few minutes to talk all things chocolate. We had a ball as Bob tasted Tangle's slivers of chocolate using a flavor wheel, discussed what's special about this chocolate, and praised his wife who happened to also be my children's gymnastic coach years ago! Here's an audio file of the approximately eight-minute segment.

Feb 11, 2021

The Evolution of Chocolate and Valentine's Day

When we think of Valentine’s Day, we think of chocolate, flowers, and poetry. But it started out as a day of fertility rites, animal sacrifices, and coupling via lottery. How did it get from there to here?

Jan 28, 2021

CHOCOLATE OR SEX?

A number of studies have been conducted over the years as to whether people prefer chocolate or sex. The winner: chocolate...but you might not want to look too closely at the rigor of the scientific process! Read a bit more here, and take Tangle Chocolate's one-question survey which asks which YOU would choose.

Jan 7, 2021

IS THERE CAFFEINE IN MY CHOCOLATE?

It’s time to set the record straight once and for all––does chocolate actually have caffeine? Should you not drink hot chocolate before bed? Can a chocolate bar replace your morning cup of joe? The answers to these questions are a bit more complicated than a simple yes or no.

Oct 29, 2020

Vegan Chocolate, a Small Step Towards a Healthier Diet

The COVID-19 pandemic has inspired lots of people to make changes in their lives, both big and small. One common area of change: what we eat. It's tough to adapt to a diet that feels punitive, now more so than ever. Tangle Chocolate suggests starting small by eating vegan chocolate.

Sep 10, 2020

10 FASCINATING CHOCOLATE FACTS

Ever wonder what kind of chocolate candy was the first taken into outer space? Or which country consumes the most chocolate? Here are a few facts about chocolate that may surprise you — read them while you enjoy Tangle Chocolate chocolate!

Aug 27, 2020

CHOCOLATE HOLIDAYS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT!

Did you know that there are over 50 holidays to celebrate all things chocolate? With everything from National Chocolate Day to National Chocolate-Covered Cashew Truffle Day, there is bound to be a day that needs to be marked in your calendar!

Aug 6, 2020

4 Fun Ways to Gift Chocolate

What’s the only thing better than ordering yourself a box of Tangle Chocolate? Getting to make someone’s day by surprising them with a box of our gourmet, handcrafted dark chocolate THINS! During this time of social isolation especially, giving a little love is good for both the giver and the receiver. Here are several creative ways to make people feel special and appreciate the little things in life that mean so much.

Jul 23, 2020

A SLIVER-SIZED HISTORY OF CHOCOLATE

When we think about chocolate, we imagine a sweet treat, whether it be a bar or a box of truffles. But for most of its history, chocolate wasn’t prepared with sugar, nor was it eaten. This is the condensed history that you can read in just about the amount of time that it takes to savor a gourmet, organic, handcrafted Tangle Chocolate Thin!

Jun 25, 2020

DEFINING CHOCOLATE: A GLOSSARY OF CHOCOLATE TERMS

This list of commonly-used words in the bean-to-bar or craft chocolate industry will help you express what you want, whether you are buying chocolate for yourself or presenting it as a gift to another premium chocolate lover!

Jun 4, 2020

FOUR WAYS THAT YOUR CHOCOLATE MAY BE COMPROMISING YOUR VALUES

You are someone who loves delighting everyone from your child’s violin teacher to your sweetheart with some special chocolate when they least expect it. And you want to choose chocolate that makes the world better as well as brightens the recipient’s day. How can you know that the chocolate you buy is in alignment with your values? Start with these four questions.

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