Askinosie Chocolate is a small batch bean-to-bar chocolate

Chocolate

Chocolate is a raw or processed food produced from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated for at least three millennia in Mexico, Central and South America. Its earliest documented use is around 1100 BC...

 maker based in Springfield, Missouri

Springfield, Missouri

Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...

. The company was founded by Shawn Askinosie, a former criminal defense lawyer, in 2007. On June 29, 2009, Askinosie's San Jose Del Tambo 70% Dark Chocolate received a Silver sofi Award at the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade

National Association for the Specialty Food Trade

The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade is a not-for-profit business trade association established in 1952 to foster trade, commerce and interest in the specialty food industry in the USA...

 Fancy Food Show in NYC.

Products

Single-origin dark chocolate, dark milk chocolate, and white chocolate from three origins: Soconusco

Soconusco

Soconusco is a region of the Mexican state of Chiapas, located in the extreme south of the state and separated from Guatemala by the Suchiate River. It is a region of rich lowlands and foothills. The economic center is Tapachula. Soconusco consists of 16 municipalities.The name comes from the...

, Mexico; San Jose Del Tambo, Ecuador; and Davao

Davao

Davao refers to several closely related places in Mindanao in the Philippines. The term is used most often to refer to the city.*Davao Region, an administrative region*Davao del Norte province*Davao del Sur province*Davao Oriental province...

, Philippines. Shawn Askinosie travels to Mexico, Ecuador, the Philippines to source the cocoa beans that he uses to make chocolate. In early 2009, Askinosie collaborated with Zingerman's

Zingerman's

Zingerman's is an upscale food retailer headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. The original business and current flagship operation, Zingerman's Delicatessen, has long been a local favorite; the introduction of their award-winning web and mail-order offerings have attracted international...

 Deli in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...

 to make El Rústico On June 29, 2009, Askinosie's San Jose Del Tambo 70% Dark Chocolate received a Silver sofi Award at the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade

National Association for the Specialty Food Trade

The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade is a not-for-profit business trade association established in 1952 to foster trade, commerce and interest in the specialty food industry in the USA...

 Fancy Food Show in NYC.

Objectives

Shawn Askinosie founded The Chocolate University in late 2007 in partnership with Drury University

Drury University

Drury University is a private liberal arts college in Springfield, Missouri.The university enrolls about 1,550 undergraduates, over 2,000 adult part-time undergraduates and around 400 graduate students in six master's programs...

and Boyd Elementary to give local students a hands-on educational experience in entrepreneurship, sustainable practices, fair trade, economics, and global engagement.

External links

1. Askinosie Chocolate Homepage.
2. Silva, Jill Wendholt (February 12, 2008). Kansas City Star. "Passing the bar: Former criminal defense lawyer turns artisan chocolate maker". Retrieved 2009-8-11.
3. Shawn Askinosie on Bloomberg Venture. Retrieved 2009-8-11.
4. Askinosie San Jose Del Tambo Dark Chocolate Nibble Bar. Review