Similar to the latest trends in direct trade coffee, Taza Chocolate is leading in direct trade cacao. Founded in 2006, Taza Chocolate combines the Meso-American tradition of chocolate, in a modern, high-quality product manufactured in a socially responsible way. Its founder, Alex Whitmore, learned about the pre-Colombian rituals in Latin America and the customs that surrounded transforming cacao intro a drink. Inspired by the simplicity of Oaxacan treatment of chocolate, he borrowed from the minimal processing and traditional method of stone grinding the beans. Whitmore, along with co-founder Larry Slotnick, have travelled the world in search of cooperatives that were sustainably growing high quality, organic cacao bean. The chocolate can be purchased online at www.tazachocolate.com