Happy New Year!

All of us at Bittersweet Danville would like to extend our best wishes to all of you for a very happy, safe, and prosperous 2010! Thank you so much for you patronage this past year!

Happy New Year!

Alter Eco and the El Ceibo Cooperative

We are carrying a delicious new deep milk chocolate that tastes good and is good for farmers in developing nations. The bar, called Dark Chocolate Velvet, is a 46% milk chocolate made from organic fair trade cane sugar from Paraguay and organic fair trade cocoa from Bolivia. It is the result of a collaboration of Alter Eco in France and the El Ceibo Cooperative in Bolivia. As one of my new favorite chocolate bars here at Bittersweet, I am glad to read about the sustainable practices that go into making this chocolate. That and the bar is our only one from Switzerland and its velvety texture is truly a testament to the centuries of chocolate craft tradition in the region.


Alter Eco is a fair trade organization based in France. It started in 1998 and quickly built up its name in the Fair Trade Movement thanks to its unique marketing and extensive product range. Considered to be one of the strongest Fair Trade brands on the market, Alter Eco offers over 100 products that are sourced from 42 cooperatives in 37 countries. The organization took the Fair Trade Movement forward in 2006 when it approached Brazilian retailers to sell Brazilian products under Fair Trade terms, hereby creating the first South-South Fair Trade arrangement. All Alter Eco products are Fair Trade Certified by TransFair USA.

The El Ceibo Cooperative formed out of the ashes of the Brazilian government's cocoa coop, which went bankrupt in the 60s. After its bankruptcy, farmers were forced to sell to local middlemen because of the difficulty of transportation to La Paz coupled with their lack of knowledge of market prices. In the early 70s, farmers in the Alto Beni region in northeast Bolivia formed small cocoa coops, and in 1977, 37 of these small coops united to form the stronger El Ceibo Cooperative. In 1988 El Ceibo became the first certified organic cocoa cooperative in the world. Since then, the coop has reinvested its profits into its community: they provide allowance for school fees to their members, give out yearly bonuses to members over 65, reinvest in trucks and improvements in their processing facilities, operate a technical assistance program in agroecology and forestry, research alternative cultivation methods, and provide all members with health and accident insurance. Today, El Ceibo is responsible for 70% of the organic cocoa production in Bolivia.

Our Holiday Hours

Hey everyone!

Hope you all are having a wonderful holiday season so far!
I'd like to remind all of you of our holiday hours just in case you might need to grab some last minute goodies!

Today until December 23rd: Regular operating hours
December 24th: 7am - 4pm
December 25th: CLOSED
December 26th - 30th: Regular operating hours
December 31st: 7am - 4pm
January 1st: CLOSED

We resume our regular operating hours on January 2nd.

Happy holidays, and thanks very much for you patronage!

Music Comes to Bittersweet This Saturday!

This is an event that you won't want to miss. We have some great local artists coming to play for you. What a night, great chocolate, great coffee, and great music!

Stop in this Saturday from 7-9PM to join the fun!

Acoustic Saturday Coming Next Week!

We are so excited to bring to you some great local artists for an Acoustic Evening of song on Saturday, December 19th, from 7-9PM.

We will be hosting Graham Harper, Kacie Cone, and Michael Sallstrom as they play some of their favorites.

Stop in for a drink and a pastry and some great local artists playing their tunes for a night of fun.

Looking For That Gift To Send?

Are you looking for that perfect gift to send to a client or maybe your best friend? We have a wonderful selection that is not in our stores, but available to you to order. Just pop on over to our Bittersweet Corporate Gifts file and all the information you need to pick the perfect gift is available to you. From wine and chocolate to your favorite Bittersweet Drink Mix or Bittersweet Origins Coffee. It is here ready to send.

These are gift selections that you can't get anywhere else and have all of the quality you have come to expect from Bittersweet Cafe.

Favorite Drink?

A lot of people ask me what is my favorite chocolate drink. Like my favorite chocolate bars I havea couple of favorites and it really depends on my mood as to which I pick.

Other than the Bicerin, I love the Spicy! hot chocolate. And if I feel like coffee I think it is even better with a shot of espresso in it. However, if I am in the mood for a cold drink it is either the Iced Mocha or Vanilla Dry Soda that I choose.

No matter my mood I will always find something pleasing at Bittersweet. Hot or cold, you can't beat the rich chocolate and smooth creaminess of any Bittersweet drink. Why do you think I chose to work here. I can have one every day. Though in the mornings it is usually a latte in my hand.

Stop on in to find out your mood and your favorites today.

Reminder No Postcards Tonight!

This is a reminder that the Paris Postcards Event tonight was cancelled.

We will have one more event this year. Details to come....

Clothing Drive

So far the Clothing Drive has been a great success! Every weekend we have been overflowing with donations. Thank you Danville for being so generous this time of year when others need your help.

The drive will be continuing through the weekend of December 20th, so be sure to come in soon with you gently used clothing.

All donations are greatly appreciated.

Paris Postcards Cancelled!

I am sorry to say that our Thursday Night Event this week has been cancelled. Please make note. The store will be open for our regular hours.

Thank you!

Holiday Goodies!

It is that time of year again. Where did the time go? We have been in Danville for over a year now! Wow!

Bittersweet has some great treats and stocking stuffers in the stores perfect for all your gift giving needs.

These are just a few of the fabulous items that we have. The ever popular Crispy Pop, Marshmallow Fellow, Placesetting Tree and Snowman, and the tastiest (and cutest) ornaments ever done in chocolate!

Also, for that one of a kind gift please ask our friendly Baristas to help you put together a gift box or bag.

This is the time of year for Hot Chocolate as well and we
have ours ready to go home with you. A gift of Hot Chocolate or Bittersweet Origins Coffee will keep your loved ones warm this winter.

Everyone loves to receive chocolate. This is your opportunity to please even the most distinctive Chocophile this holiday season.

Happy holiday and we will see you soon!

Next Week - Postcards from Paris!

"Paris Postcards" is a new book written by Leonard Pitt.

He will be joining us next Thursday, December 10th, from 7-9PM, to discuss his new book and show some of the postcards, as well as, discuss his favorite chocolate, Pralus.

“The book has almost 200 stunning postcards, many hand tinted, from the early 1900s. The history of the early postcard is full of drama. Deplored by many, it became a world-wide craze that revolutionized communication just like email today and with many of the same problems. The photos in the book show a Paris that no longer exists. The messages written by Americans to loved ones back home evoke the American experience of Paris at the turn of the century.”
-Leonard Pitt

Come and join us for some fabulous chocolate and a "guaranteed good time."