Food and Drink

This new Kelowna chocolate company is tempting taste buds

Check out these fairtrade, organic, plant-based treats

When Matan Volach moved from Toronto to Kelowna, he had one goal in mind; follow his passion for chocolate, and to make a difference in how it’s made.

From there, he started Drop Naked Chocolate, a high-end chocolate company that uses fairtrade, organic Belgian chocolate, free of dairy, and made from real ingredients that are 100 per cent plant-based.

Part of his inspiration to make a clean product was his mother, who passed away from cancer when he was 13 years old.

“All the information about plant-based diets and how powerful they are for cancer prevention and treatment really inspired me to stick with the plant-based idea and move forward with that,” he told Kelowna10. “I think it’s something important to contribute to society. I and push that direction.”

A key ingredient in his sweet treats are dates. Enrobing and moulding the dates helps ensure they have the right flavour profile for the chocolates.

Beyond the unique and delicious fruit, Volach said the key to his delectable deserts are science and quality ingredients.

“The art of chocolatiering is really the manipulation of fat crystals in the cocoa butter, which is the process of tempering. Getting the right crystal to get the right consistency in the mouth,” he said.

His chocolates, which are free from dairy, syrups and oils, have been praised for their unique taste and texture, and are popular among vegans and health-conscious consumers. Dates are used as the primary sweetener, and nuts are substituted over dairy.

“I grew up eating a lot of dairy based chocolate and I couldn't stand the aftertaste. So, I thought, let’s develop that creamy fulfilling mouth consistency without using dairy products,” he said.

“I think the biggest thing that I hear from our customers is clean ingredients. People don’t want all of the shortcuts…they just want good clean ingredients that they don’t have to feel guilty about. … We give the best of the best and do it all the time.”

Drop Naked Chocolates can be found at Nature’s Fare Market, and at the Farmer’s Market.

Published 2023-03-23 by Connor Chan

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