Truth Coffee’s David Donde Launches Minimalist Sugar-Free Chocolate Range
Whether you drink coffee or not, chances are you’ve heard of David Donde and his famous Truth Coffee. In 2016, Donde’s steampunk-themed coffee house on Cape Town’s Buitenkant Street was dubbed the best coffee shop in the world by UK news agency The Telegraph and he is regarded by many as the man responsible for bringing specialty coffee roasting to South Africa. Long story short, David Donde has a history of pioneering flavour profiles that win over South African and international palates. Now, Donde and his team of taste masters are taking on a new realm; chocolate. Say hello to Minimalist Chocolate — a sugar-free chocolate range made from just 2 ingredients!
Realising that the world of chocolate looks like coffee did before the rise of Speciality Coffee, Donde’s journey into chocolate began. For this new type of chocolate, Donde and Minimalist co-founder Ken Walton, have transferred the expertise of Truth Coffee to cacao for a minimalist chocolate that defies expectations. With a focus on guilt-free, clean, ethical ingredients and no sugar at all, Minimalist Chocolate is daring to go where no chocolate brand has gone before. The cocoa beans used in the creation of Minimalist are fair trade, from bean to bar, giving you peace of mind when indulging in this delicious treat.
Much like with Truth Coffee, Donde’s secret is once again in the roasting processes: with this unique treatment, chocolate can reach its most flavourful form without the need for sugar, additives, soy lecithin, fructose and all the other sugar alternatives usually found in chocolate. The result is a rich, creamy, delicious chocolate that will blow your mind.
“No-one is brave enough to say ‘no sugar required’,” says Donde, referring to his bold approach to two of the world’s favourite little luxuries. “We did it with coffee in 2005 with the launch of Origin Coffee Roasting, and now we’re doing it with chocolate. The approach is simple: no bitterness in the chocolate to begin with, so no sugar needed to overcome it.”
First taste of Minimalist chocolate
Made using just two ingredients, this is chocolate in its purest form. Minimalist’s classic chocolate bars are crafted from just cacao and milk, making for an after-taste and creamy texture that is seriously moreish. Tasting the chocolate for the first time was indeed a special experience. Being dark chocolate, I was expecting it to taste bitter, like many other dark chocolate brands on the market, but the flavours of Minimalist’s chocolate dance across your tongue leaving no sign of bitterness behind.
And, for those who don’t eat dairy, the team are also putting the finishing touches to a dairy-free oat milk bar that is the vegan flavour equal of Minimalist’s flagship chocolates. I was fortunate enough to get a sneak peek tasting of this new offering before launch, and can confidently say; vegans will not be disappointed by this creamy treat. Minimalist’s dairy-free option is creamy and delicious and is almost indistinguishable from its milk-laden sibling.
The brand’s extended product selection also offers something for the sweet tooth. Minimalist Chocolate Bon Bons come in five irresistible flavours including: Hazelnut, Salted Caramel, Truth coffee, Dulce de Leche and Christmas Cake, for some sugared decadence at its finest. Chocolate gift boxes are available in batches of 5 bon bons. As amazing as the Minimalist chocolate bars are, sometimes you want a little sugar-filled indulgence and these little bon bons are pure heaven. My favourite was the hazelnut and salted caramel; which offered a new take on these much-loved flavours. If you’re looking to really spoil someone then you can’t go wrong with a box of Minimalist Chocolate Bon Bons.
But the fun doesn’t stop there. With winter approaching, creating a decadent hot chocolate was only natural. Pop into Truth Coffee for a Minimalist Chocolate Hot Chocolate and get lost in the ceremony of it all. Served in a beautiful glass mug, the Minimalist Hot Chocolate Grenades offer decadence and a show. Slowly pour hot milk over the mystery-filled chocolate grenade, stir and wait for the explosion of flavour and magic to ensue! It is pure joy in liquid form, and you’ll soon find yourself ordering a second and a third cup to warm your soul.
Where to find them:
Minimalist Chocolate Bars are available from Truth Coffee, the Minimalist Chocolate website, as well as selected retail outlets nationwide. The Minimalist Hot Chocolate, Bon Bons and gift boxes are exclusive to Truth Coffee situated at 36 Buitenkant Street, Cape Town.
The Minimalist 60% Dark Milk Chocolate Bar is available at a recommended retail price (RRP) of R80, Dairy-Free 60% Oat Milk Chocolate Bar at a RRP R90, and the Bon Bons in gift boxes of 5 at R80 or R16 each.
Images: @CraveConcepts – Chantelle Horn.
