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Tuesday, April 14, 2020/Author: Jim/Number of views (2590)/Comments (0)/
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FLAVOR LIST

AS OF June 2, 2023

Our small batches come & go, so if we are out of any requested flavors we will substitute for something we hope you will enjoy trying.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR ONLINE STORE

If you have any other questions, just email or call us.

Tuesday, March 17, 2020/Author: Jim/Number of views (40996)/Comments (0)/
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Desert Dish Video: Zak’s Chocolate - An Artisan Chocolate Shop

A short video of our chocolate story, filmed by a James Beard Award Winning videographer

Like coffee and wine, each cocoa bean comes from a unique terroir that impacts its flavor. Zak's Chocolate is giving patrons a taste of true chocolate.

Wednesday, December 26, 2018/Author: Jim/Number of views (2813)/Comments (0)/
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Zak's Single-Origin Brownies Named Best Brownies in Arizona by Eat This, Not That!

Also, read the feature about our Brownie Flights in Phoenix New Times

"This is a serious chocolate pastry that will make you rethink all previous brownie experiences."

CLICK THE ARTICLE HEADING ABOVE TO LEARN MORE

 

Monday, September 4, 2017/Author: Jim/Number of views (2852)/Comments (0)/
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A Series of Behind-the-Scenes Videos

Welcome into our world of chocolate!

We took Cory McCloskey behind the scenes of our (slightly expanded) micro chocolate factory this past summer.

Click the Heading above to see the 5 short video segments shot live on International Chocolate Day, July 7, 2022 (hence the super high temps on Cory's weather charts!).

For a deeper dive into our process, including how we press and use cocoa butter, you can check out the link for a 30 minute video by

our friends at Foodies Who Fitness.

Wednesday, September 28, 2022/Author: Jim/Number of views (292)/Comments (0)/
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How to Buy the Best Chocolate, According to Professional Chefs and Chocolatiers

The Food Network included some of our thoughts about what to look for when buying chocolate to eat or cook with.

 

Monday, April 18, 2022/Author: Jim/Number of views (449)/Comments (0)/
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Best of Phoenix 2021

Zak's Chocolate is Recognized for Best Chocolate

Monday, October 25, 2021/Author: Jim/Number of views (622)/Comments (0)/
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The Basics of Chocolate Tasting

Phoenix New Times review of our Talk, Taste & Tour Event

Click the heading above to read the review...

 

"Nine out of ten people like chocolate. The tenth person always lies." - John Q. Tullius

 

 

"Make a list of important things to do today. At the top of your list, put ‘eat chocolate’. 

Now, you'll get at least one thing done today." - Gina Hayes

 

 

"Chocolate is nature’s way of making up for Mondays." – Anonymous

Thursday, June 10, 2021/Author: Jim/Number of views (924)/Comments (0)/
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Zak's Cocoa Grilling Rub

3 Local Products to Try This Summer - Featured in Phoenix Magazine

Saturday, May 22, 2021/Author: Jim/Number of views (820)/Comments (0)/
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Cacao Magic in 4 short videos from the Tropics

Farming, Fermentation, Drying, Quality Control

These videos are a great introduction to all the magic and really, really hard work done by so many amazing people in the tropics.

Learn what has to happen before cocoa beans arrive at Zak's so we can turn them into chocolate for you to enjoy.

These awesome, short videos were produced by our primary partner in transparent trade, Uncommon Cacao

Friday, March 12, 2021/Author: Jim/Number of views (816)/Comments (0)/
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A 59 Second Video

How we make our chocolate

Friday, March 5, 2021/Author: Jim/Number of views (900)/Comments (0)/
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Made in Arizona: Zak's Chocolate started as hobby

Click above to see our story

           Zak's Chocolate featured on the Fox10 Made in Arizona series.

Monday, May 18, 2020/Author: Jim/Number of views (1257)/Comments (0)/
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2021 Transparency Report - Uncommon Cacao

click heading above to learn more

As you may know, especially if you've attended one of our events or engaged us in conversation at our shop, we pride ourselves on using only ethically, and transparantly-sourced cacao to craft our chocolate. 

Ethical, transparant sourcing encompasses many things, including certain environmental, economic and social standards relating to the farming activities and the people we buy cocoa beans from and through. 

But basically, it is about knowing where your food (in this case, chocolate) comes from, how it's made, how the land is treated and how all the people involved in the process handle mutual responsibilities.

Our longest-standing trade relationship, and one we are most proud of, is with a small group called Uncommon Cacao, a Ceritfied B Corporation. Each year, Uncommon Cacao publishes a Transparency Report that is full of great insights and information, yet is also a pretty easy read. We hope you will take some time to check it out. We'd love to hear what you learned and what you think.

Thursday, September 19, 2019/Author: Jim/Number of views (6941)/Comments (0)/
Categories: Chocolate Stuff
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2019 International Chocolate Awards

Zak's wins 3 Awards!

  We are excited to announce that we took home THREE Awards this year, and that our Belize 70% Dark Chocolate was named a finalist.

 *Silver for our Coffee Break Bar, a dark chocolate bar with milk & locally roasted coffee, blended together for the perfect Coffee Break

 *Silver for our Belize Single-Origin White Chocolate Bar

 *Bronze for our Peru Maranon Single-Origin White Chocolate Bar

  Yes, two different White Chocolates!

  White Chocoolate IS REAL Chocolate AND each origin offers different natural flavor profiles. Our Belize White is slightly fruity and our Peru is mild and soooo creamy

Monday, July 8, 2019/Author: Jim/Number of views (1524)/Comments (0)/
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IMAGES AZ Magazine feature

"If you want to view paradise, simply look around and view it" - Willy Wonka

Click here to see the online article. IMAGES AZ Magazine captures the uniqueness of Zak's Chocolate

Friday, March 8, 2019/Author: Jim/Number of views (1482)/Comments (0)/
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Chocolate Connoisseur Magazine

Zak's Chocolate featured as Cover Story

OUR STORY...ON THE COVER of Chocolate Connoisseur Magazine.

When we opened our little craft chocolate shop about 3 years ago, we just wanted to share chocolate, the way we like it, with the hope that others might like it, too. Chocolate is a very personal experience and we are really excited that Chocolate Connoisseur has shared our own personal story, and some of the things that were, & always will be, important to us, from ethically sourced cacao to highlighting Arizona grown & produced ingredients, to collaborations with other local craftspeople, many of whom are mentioned in the article (some are in the part that comes after the online free preview version🧐).

Anyway, this is our story. It’s kinda long, so grab a chocolate bar or two, pair it with your favorite Arizona wine, coffee or spirits, and we hope you enjoy.

Cheers & Chocolate🍫

Maureen & Jim (Hey, wait a minute, who’s Zak? Do you know? Maybe you'll figure it out from reading the article...)

 

Click here to read the online free preview version (it's about two-thirds of the whole article). Because Chocolate Connoiseur is a subscription-based publication, we were not able to provide a link to the entire article. However, if you want to read the rest of the story (and we hope you do), just click here for a pdf version. It's not a real clean looking version, but just scroll down until you see the picture of our chocolate ice cream.wink
 

{btw, if you are interested in subscribing to Chocolate Connoisseur Magazine you can use the coupon code ZAKS30 for 30% off either the current issue or an annual subscription}

Monday, August 27, 2018/Author: Jim/Number of views (1696)/Comments (0)/
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Edible Phoenix Article

Tasting Artisanal Chocolate in Arizona

 

"Embracing old methods and new flavors to go beyond commercial chocolate."

We are honored to be featured in Edible Phoenix, Summer 2017 edition. Click here for full article 



Saturday, May 20, 2017/Author: Jim/Number of views (2592)/Comments (0)/
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Phoenix New Times 100 Tastemakers in the Valley

Get to Know More About Maureen & Jim, Plus "Three Things You Probably Don't Know About Chocolate"

From now until we publish the 2016 edition of Best of Phoenix,

New Times is naming 100 Tastemakers — 

members of our local culinary community who help shape the way we eat, drink, and think about food in Phoenix. Some you'll know, and for others, it'll be a first introduction, but each person on our list deserves a nod for helping make our city so delicious.


{Click Heading above to read full Blog entry}

Monday, July 25, 2016/Author: Jim/Number of views (2940)/Comments (0)/
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Imagine if there was only one kind of wine grape

Boring, right? Same goes for chocolate!

Imagine if we were led to believe there was only one kind of wine grape. Boring, right? Grab your favorite Zak's Chocolate bar & check out this great video explaining what real #craftchocolate is about. 

 

Friday, August 14, 2015/Author: Jim/Number of views (3169)/Comments (0)/
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