Frequently Asked Questions
Your chocolate likes to play it just a little cooler than you do. We recommend storing our chocolate in a cool, dry place. The ideal storage temperature is 55-70 degrees F. Be sure you don’t store your chocolate in your refrigerator! Much like baking soda, chocolate is susceptible to absorbing unwanted odors. Being exposed to cold temperatures for too long can also cause your chocolate to bloom.
It sounds pretty, but it can actually be pretty odd looking. Blooming is a process where the fats and sugars of the chocolate re-solidify, and become visible on the outer surface of the chocolate shell. This can look like whitish “dust” on the surface of the chocolate. While this does not affect the flavor of the chocolate, it can look somewhat unappealing. But yes, you can definitely still eat it!
Our chocolates have a shelf life ranging from 15 minutes to 12 months depending on your personal resolve and self-control.
No, our 3oz bars are actually three individually wrapped 1oz bars in one envelope. These 1oz bars are the perfect serving size for chocolate, and the sets of three are meant to either save or share!
Ten of our eleven flavors are made with sunflower lecithin and are soy-free chocolate bars! Our Cayenne Veracruz Orange bar is made with soy lecithin. We use sunflower or soy lecithin as an emulsifier, to control the viscosity and keep our chocolate nice and smooth.
Yes, jcoco has 6 vegan chocolate bars:
- Single Varietal Contamana Cacao
- Peruvian Dark with Cacao Nibs
- Black Fig & Pistachio
- Boharat Spice
- Orange Blossom Espresso
- Alaskan Smoked Sea Salt
Yes, jcoco offers exclusively gluten-free choclate! Our rigorous allergen cross-contact prevention program includes cleaning and detecting gluten on all machines before manufacturing a new product batch.
Black Fig Pistachio contains pistachios. Orange blossom espresso and Mango Plantain bars contain coconut oil; coconut is classified as a tree nut by the FDA. All other bars are nut free, however, jcoco bars are made in a plant that handles milk, soy, peanut, other tree nuts, egg and wheat products. We follow a rigorous cleaning and sanitation program between batches to ensure the lines are allergen free.
Peru is the ancestral home of cacao and is known for fine-flavored cacao beans - and with all of her travels there, has become Jean’s favorite place to visit.
Our cacao is grown in the high Amazonia region of Peru, known as Rupa Rupa. It is at this base of the Andes where mineral rich water runs off, making the soil perfect for growing cacao.
The one exception is our white chocolate (used in Cayenne Veracruz Orange). Our Peruvian chocolate maker does not currently make a white chocolate. Our white chocolate is made with Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa. The Rainforest Alliance is an international non-profit organization building an alliance to protect forests, improve the livelihoods of farmers and forest communities, promote their human rights, and help them mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis.
Learn more about our sourcing here.
We are not Fair Trade certified, but we have a direct relationship with our farmers and chocolate maker which allows us to pay them without a middle man and significantly more above Farm Gate Pricing.
It’s pronounced jay-koko, inspired by our founder Jean - the ‘j’ in jcoco! When CEO Jean Thompson founded jcoco in 2012, her mission was twofold: elevate the way people experience chocolate and turn an everyday indulgence into an opportunity to make a difference. Learn more about our company here.
In addition to paying farmers fairly, jcoco donates 10% of net profits to providing additional support to cacao farmers.
Want to see where the magic happens? Our Seattle chocolate factory offers tours and events! Click here to learn more or book a tour.
Visit our Tours page to make a booking.
Each tour accommodates up to 16 people. If you're interested in booking a tour for a larger group, please give us a ring at (425) 264-2705.
There is a fair amount of walking involved during our guided tour. Stairs up to the viewing platform and walkway may pose a difficulty to persons with mobility restrictions. We recommend comfortable walking shoes and no dangling jewelry. Because we are a food plant, you will also be given a hairnet to wear inside the factory. The temperature in the warehouse is a little chilly. You may consider bringing a sweater or light jacket.
With our rigorous safety and quality standards, we cannot allow glass in our plant. Each guest will be given a locker to stow their personal belongings, including cell phones, before embarking on the factory portion of the tour.
Reservations may be made up to 90 days in advance. Make your reservation online here to guarantee the time and day you wish to visit. We recommend booking your tour 2-3 weeks in advance for weekends and holidays. However, we do hold a few spots for same day, walk-in reservations. If you need assistance, please contact us at (425) 264-2705.
You are welcome to take as many photos and videos as you like in the retail area and classrooms. Because glass is strictly prohibited in our food plant, cell phones and cameras are not permitted on the walkway. You will be assigned a locker with a personal number code to stow your items safely while you are on the tour.
We do! Because tours are conducted during production, we can accommodate only one wheelchair (plus companion) or other mobility restriction at a time. Please contact us at (425) 264-2705 or [email protected] to schedule your visit.
Yes! Our 3 oz envelopes, bar wraps, copper inner foil wraps and gift boxes are recyclable.