May 7, 2015
Early last fall, Rebecca told me about Zimt, an artisanal maker of raw, vegan, organic chocolates. She gave them the most glowing review, and as a lover of all things chocolate, I was immediately intrigued. As soon as I tasted some of the Zimt bars–specifically, the company’s “salt of the earth” bar–I could understand why she had been so enthusiastic.
Zimt chocolate is special. I eat a lot of vegan chocolate, and a lot of raw, vegan chocolate, and I know a great bar when I taste one. What makes these bars so unique is the integrity of their ingredients. Zimt chocolates are always 100% organic, vegan, and raw. The cacao is fermented and dried, but not roasted, and through the minimal processing, one can really taste the vibrant flavor of cacao nibs. What’s more, Zimt chocolate is sweetened exclusively with coconut sugar, which gives it that wonderfully characteristic caramel flavor (or at least, that’s what coconut sugar has always tasted like to me!).
These features all contribute to chocolate bars and products that are healthful and flavorful. I love this, but what impresses me even more about Zimt is the company’s commitment to sustainability and ethics. The Zimt mission statement reads, “Zimt creates vegan products—exclusively. We want to keep our animal friends out of our products, because they deserve to live a life that they want, and not be used for what we can take from them.” I love when companies are unafraid to speak up for animals, to put their hearts and souls into the vegan label. And I love this compassionate expression of respect for non-human life.
Zimt is also committed to human rights. In explaining the choice to use organic ingredients, the Zimt “about” page reads, “…there is no way we would support farming with dangerous chemicals—doing so would hurt farmers and their families. We want to keep these chemicals far away from our earth…and support farmers who choose a sustainable form of agriculture. We want them to know that this is supported and that they can feel secure in knowing that there is demand for their work. Zimt is eternally indebted to our wonderful farmers for providing us the ingredients to craft our sweets.” Again, I appreciate this kind of conscientiousness and care.
My admiration of Zimt has only increased since I’ve gotten to know the company’s lovely founder, Emma Smith. You’ll all get to know Emma better next week, when I share her Green Recovery story here on Choosing Raw. For now, I’ll only say that compassion seems to animate all of Emma’s work: compassion for non-human animals, compassion for human beings, compassion for the earth. And, because she has struggled with disordered eating, Emma has no doubt had to learn the hard way how to exercise compassion toward herself. I love when women with ED histories find ways to channel their painful experiences into passionate professional lives–especially within the food industry. And it is so clear to me that the artistry Emma pours into her brand emerges from an profound journey with food and healing.
When Emma offered me the chance to sample a bunch of her products this fall, I couldn’t have been happier. What she sent me was a wonderful sampling of the best Zimt has to offer.
It included two Zimt bars, a container of Zimt baking pieces, two double chocolate macaroons, and three containers of Emma’s incredible “cookie doughs.” (You can check out all of the Zimt products here, by the way.)
The bars were the “salt of the earth flavor” I love so much (Himalayan sea salt + smooth dark chocolate) and “sweet orange nib’d”–a mixture of dark chocolate, sweet orange, and crunchy cacao nibs. I couldn’t decide which of these flavors was more wonderful.
Next up were Emma’s delectable macaroons. It’s a testament to her talent that the only ingredients in these are coconut flakes, coconut nectar, coconut oil, cacao powder, and Zimt chocolate. They are so rich and satisfying!
And the cookie doughs. I know why these are called cookie dough; their texture is similar to that of fresh dough, and they have a touch of that salty/sweet flavor. But they’re much richer and more satisfying than cookie dough, thanks to cacao butter and another ingredient you’d never guess: navy beans! Yup, Emma mixes legumes into this mix for texture and a sneaky dose of nutrition. You’d never know, but the result is so, so tasty.
Finally, I loved getting my hands on these unusually healthy and delicious pieces of baking chocolate. Not because I actually baked with them, but because I could snack on them continuously for days.
I love this company, and I love Emma, and I want you all to have a chance to get to know these wonderful confections. So, I’m offering one lucky CR reader a chance to win a sampling of Zimt chocolates today. If you’d like to taste the Zimt bars, cookie doughs, baking pieces, and macaroons for yourself, simply enter the giveaway below. The giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents, and it will run for two weeks.
And whether you win the giveaway or not, do take some time to get to know this cool, vegan brand. The Zimt website contains more information about the company’s products and story, and if you’d like to gaze at a little chocolate porn, may I recommend the Zimt Instagram page?
Good luck, friends, and I’ll be back for weekend reading on Sunday.
xo
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cookie dough…yum
The bars and the baking chocolate sound amazing, but the cookie dough is really intriguing and sounds quite unique. I’d start with that for sure!
The cookie dough for sure!!
They all look and sound so yummy!
I cannot wait to try the salt of the earth bar. Everything sounds amazing though!
The macaroons sound amazing!
Chocolate and cookie dough? I’m sold.
Oh my gosh! It all sounds amazing. I love the idea of a cup full of cookie dough. Yes please!
Cookie dough cups!
I love the sound of the cookie dough cup.
Sweet Orange :O)
A++ for Vegan chocolate! Will definitely check out their site! Thanks so much for the stellar giveaway! Cheers, Valerie 🙂
I want to try the cookie dough! Sounds amazing!
I am excited to try…all of them, but if I had to pick, I’d choose the cookie dough!
All of the products sound so very wonderful, but I think the cookie dough cups sound absolutely delectable! I would love the opportunity to try them!
I’d love to try any of these products, but that cookie dough sounds especially amazing.
Oh my gosh I have never wanted to win any giveaway so bad haha! I am a vegan chocolate Lover and taste tester. Not a day passes when I don’t have some! Which is not friendly towards my college budget but balance right? Haha! I want to try any and everything! Especially the cookie dough cups or salt of the earth bar!
i’d be curious to try the sugar & spice bar ~ i’ve never had cinnamon in chocolate before, but it sounds heavenly!
I am SO intrigued by the cookie dough cup… this has definitely inspired a walk to the organic mart to see if i can sample some quick 😉
I’d love to try any one of these! They all look so amazing. What a great company!
I would love to try the Salt of the Earth bar or the cookie dough!
After cutting out dessert for a couple of years, I brought back dark chocolate – and I’m loving it! Would love to try this after your recommendation.
I am so excited to try the cookie dough! I have found Zimt bars here in Edmonton, Alberta and love them!
The cookie dough. Always the cookie dough.
Dark chocolate & seasalt please! Mmmmm
I would LOVE to try the chocolate bars! Yum!
It all sounds amazing but I’d love to try the cookie dough!
The cookie dough looks good, but I wish they had 100% unsweetened chocolate (no coconut sugar). I love snacking on 100% baking chocolate.
Umm no question…the cookie dough!
I love the name, salt of the earth!
I am excited to try the salt of the earth bar. I am obsessed with salted chocolate.
Cookie dough would be the 1st I try -thanks!
Everything they make looks amazing, but their macaroons are the first thing I’d want to bite into! 😀
I am most excited to try the double chocolate macaroons
The cookie dough sounds amazing!
Salt of the Earth Dark Chocolate for sure
The salt of the Earth bar, I think — I love chocolate with sea salt. I’m especially interested in this company because I think it’s local for me; I’m in Burnaby, BC.
I would be super excited to try the macaroons! But I love all things chocolate. It would truly be hard to know where to start
I’m intrigued by the beans in the cookie dough.
How can I choose, they all look so delightfully delectable. Chocolate is melting in your mouth good and these are organic and raw. Lovely site with good recipes on display — really excited about it all. Love to taste all of it. Yummy!!!
I would love to try the dark baking chocolate! yummm!!
Ooh, the cookie dough or the salt of the earth chocolate! Way to go, Emma, for spreading compassion, healing, and love!
I wouldn’t turn any of it away, but I think I’d like the double chocolate macaroons the most.
The cookie dough!
I would love to try the salt of the earth!
I want to try them all. Luv chocolate
Cookie dough!!! Oh my goodness, now I have to go make some cookie dough.
Definitely would like to try the cookie dough! Love that they added beans to it!
I would love to try the Aztec spice chocolate!
Cookie dough and macaroons? I’d be in absolute raw chocolate heaven!
This may sound silly, but I’m excited for the baking chocolate. I am so picky when it comes to chocolate, and I love snacking on little morsels of bittersweet baking chocolate. If you can do that right, you can do it all!
I would really want to get my mouth on the very dark bittersweet baking chocolate pieces, no question!
The cookie dough cups look amazing! .. I mean it all does. 😉 Bring on the raw ethical chocolate!
Anything with dark chocolate!
I want to try that chocolate chip cookie dough so badly!!
I’m most excited to try the salt of the earth chocolate!
I eat a little bit of chocolate every day! Usually I have a stash of about 5 bars at a time. If I’m not eating a few squares of dark chocolate then I am definitely making some other kind of chocolate dessert at the time. I cannot wait to try all of these products!
The mint chocolate bar looks amazing! Well, every single product looks amazing but I love mint and chocolate.
Those macarons look insanely good! Thanks for hosting this delicious giveaway!
the darkest chocolate sweetened with coconut sugar!
Ohhh, I’m definitely most excited to try the cookie dough!
the cookie dough!
The baking chocolate pieces sound really great!
I would love to try the chocolate macaroons!
Macaroons please!
Salt of the Earth chocolate bar sounds amazing!
I love Zimt’s products, all of them! The cookie dough cups are especially amazing though :)!
Yummmm the cookie dough!!!
They all sound amazing, but the Aztec Spice Cookie Dough sounds the most intriguing to me.
I would love to try the salt of the earth bar!
Aztec spice chocolate cookie dough sounds divine!
1) cookie dough
2) salt of earth
I would love to try the cookie dough one! Sounds amazing!
Zimt is the BEST chocolate I’ve ever tasted…hands down!! I love Emma and her philosophy!
im most excited to try the cookie dough and truffles. They sound so decadent!
Thank you so much, lovely Gena!!!! <3 <3 <3 You are so gifted. We're lucky to have you. =) xo
Cookie Dough Cup!?
They are soooooooo yummmyyyyyyy…!!!
Cookie dough for sure!
The macarons look delicious!
I like anything that’s dark chocolate + sea salt!
I’d love to try the macaroons!
Love to get my hands on to some. I like darK.
How can I pick just *one* product I’d like to try?! That’s like asking me to choose between naps and bacon! 🙂
It’s not easy to find amazing vegan products so everything would be amazing to try, but I’d say the cookie dough if I have to pick a top product to test out!
Cookie dough cups?!
salt of the earth bar
Salt of the earth bar…………..YUMMMM!
The salty Zimt is my favourite chocolate everrrr! I have yet to get my hands on the cookie dough cup and I’ve dying to try it!!
Hey hey love!
Cookie dough!!!
I’d love to try chocolate chunk cookie dough cup!
Triple Chocolate treat!
I need this in my life sooooo bad! 😉
I love everything about this company and would love the opportunity to try their chocolates. The cookie dough in particular sounds amazing!
Thanks, Jenny! It really means a lot to me when people can mesh with what I am wanting to promote- lots and lots of compassion.
It is =D It is sooooo good! I hope you get to try it!
Mmmm I’m a sucker for cookie dough!
YumEeee…truffles!
Yum! The bars sound so interesting to me.
Hmmm, I certainly could get fat! lol Everything looks absolutely delicious!
Hahah- if you try really hard maybe you could 😉 but that is totally besides the point- they are healthy treats and they will make you happy!
It all looks wonderful, but I am definitely a sucker for cookie dough!
All of this chocolate looks so good! I want to try the salt of the earth bar
The cookie dough cups!!!
Me too! They look delicious!
And by the way “salt of the earth” in french should be “sel de la terre” (not “sal”).
Zimt looks like a lovely company!