Goodnow Farms – Winter Maple & Spiced Brown Butter, 65%

Goodnow Farm Chocolate’s Winter Chocolate Bar is a harmonious blend of local and exotic ingredients, crafted to warm the spirit on even the coldest days. This year’s bar combines Severance Farm’s New England maple sugar, browned butter from Highlawn Farm, Burlap & Barrel’s Cloud Forest Cardamom, and a rich Boyaca cacao, creating a complex yet comforting flavor experience that evokes the cozy, tranquil atmosphere of a winter evening in New England.

The bar’s flavor begins with the delicate sweetness of Severance Farm’s locally sourced maple sugar. The Severance family, from Northfield, Massachusetts, are among the few small maple producers in the state who can granulate their own maple sugar, adding a distinct, artisanal touch to the chocolate. Their maple sugar is the same used in Goodnow’s award-winning Asochivite with Maple Sugar Dark Chocolate, bringing a familiar and nostalgic warmth.

The richness of Highlawn Farm’s browned butter follows, adding a deep, savory complexity to the blend. Highlawn Farm, located in the Berkshires, produces slow-churned butter from their Jersey cows, who enjoy a nutrient-rich diet and a healthy, sustainable lifestyle. The result is a buttery richness that complements the sweetness of the maple and the warmth of the spices.

The final touch comes from Burlap & Barrel’s Cloud Forest Cardamom, sourced from a biodynamic, regenerative farm high in the Guatemalan cloud forests. This yellow cardamom lends a soft, sweet flavor that perfectly balances the richness of the other ingredients, creating a smooth, fragrant undertone that ties the flavors together.

The base of the bar is made with Boyaca cacao, a special blend from the smallholder farmers of San Pablo de Borbur, Colombia. This community has transitioned from a history of coca production to a healthier, more sustainable path, growing some of the finest cacao beans in the world. The result is a chocolate that is both comforting and exceptional in its complexity.

Goodnow’s Winter Chocolate Bar is a celebration of craftsmanship, sustainability, and the joy of the season. Let each bite melt slowly in your mouth, warming you from the inside out, as you experience a taste of winter’s finest flavors.

To learn more about the ingredients and the story behind each one, visit Goodnow’s pages on Boyaca cacao, their unique chocolate-making process, and the fine sourcing practices that make each bar special.