“A complete departure from all other Madagascar chocolates... virtually nothing about this bar is short of perfect... one of the great chocolates of the world... The flavour is simply awe-inspiring.” Alex Rast, of leading fine chocolate website, seventypercent.com

“The Sambirano has an earthy, woody flavour due to the fermentation and the short length of time from tree to manufacture of the chocolate. The fact that it is Equitrade is a great plus to ending poverty.” Tony Hoyle, British Chocolate Master 2004

“Equitrade could, within 10 years, make poverty history in Madagascar… its people could shake off the legacy of being among the poorest 10 nations on earth - by making gourmet chocolate,” declared Observer Food Monthly writer Andrew Purvis upon visiting the country last year to investigate Malagasy’s unique and revolutionary system of production for himself.

Malagasy is a true world first – all their products are not only harvested in Madagascar, but also processed and prepared to international requirements within the country – a practice they refer to as equitable trading or Equitrade, which simply means that a much greater proportion of the ‘added value’ is created by producing the whole chocolate bar, not just exporting the raw cocoa ingredient from Madagascar.

Should you not be lucky enough to visit the beautiful island of Madagascar yourself, you can at least now purchase the Sambirano Grand Cru 2006 chocolate, the second Equitrade chocolate to be stocked in Waitrose, the forward-thinking supermarket chain which introduced Mora Mora – the world’s first Equitrade product – earlier this summer.

Neil Kelsall, Managing Director of Malagasy commented: “Enjoy this Fine Chocolate as you would a fine wine, it will engage all your senses, the taste lingers long on your palette. The fresh flavours of this seasons Cocoa (rare Criollo and Trinitario, Forestaro) are uniquely captured at source. The delicate flavours of this Grand Cru are dependent on the soil, sun, water and shade of the forest canopy in the Sambirano Valleyin northwest Madagascar. This is pure chocolate with minerals, vitamins, fibre and antioxidants that are good for your heart, plus contains no additives, vegetable oils, no preservatives, no added flavourings, no colourings, and is dairy free”

Malagasy has partnerships with over 800 cooperative farmers who cultivate and nurture the 6000-hectare plantation. At this point in the journey, unlike most other chocolate available to buy from your local supermarket shelves, Malagasy cocoa stays in Madagascar to be processed into fine chocolate by the Malagasy Ramanandraibe family, whose knowledge of fine chocolate making has been handed down through generations.

For more information visit Malagasy.co.uk and for more information on Equitrade visit Equitrade.org