Impactful and imaginative chocolate gifts for Easter

While it is a religious holiday, Easter has taken on a secular significance as many enjoy the 4-day weekend and tuck into Easter eggs. But what have chocolate eggs got to do with Easter?

Well, this modern tradition came about because in the week before Easter Christians avoid eating eggs. Any eggs that chickens lay in that week would be set aside and decorated to give to children as a gift to celebrate what was then known as Holy Week. Pre-dating this though, pagan traditions around the Spring equinox see the egg (not to mention the rabbit) as symbols of new life.

It was 19th century chocolatiers in France and Germany who took the idea of egg-decorating one further and developed chocolate Easter eggs. Later – when chocolate-making innovation allowed it – these became hollow to give form to Easter eggs as we know them today.

These days the traditions of handcrafted, decorated and delicious Easter eggs are continued by our social impact brands. From Dalit’s handpainted egg cup for boiled eggs and soldiers for an Easter weekend breakfast to chocolates that give back, there’s something here for everyone. Read on for our gift guide of the best chocolates that do good this Easter.

Vegan Easter eggs

You might already know that Divine Chocolate are the original pioneers of Fairtrade. Set up in the 90’s by a group of Ghanian cocoa farmers, these advocates for the Fairtrade movement means that those along the supply chain are given better opportunities to make a fair wage, while delivering delicious chocolate in the form of bars, minis and, of course, Easter eggs. 

Their dark chocolate range – around 70% cocoa and upwards – is certified by the Vegan Society, making it perfect for anyone keen to try or strictly following a vegan diet. Divine have also worked hard to ensure that this Easter their packaging is plastic-free, getting rid of any plastic seals. Woohoo!

 

Their Luxury Dark Egg comes with their 70% dark chocolate mini eggs, also available to purchase individually. Ideal for an around-the-house Easter egg hunt or sharing on the sofa while watching a movie. 

Gluten-free Easter eggs

Harry Specters is an award-winning family-run chocolatier based in Cambridge. Husband and wife duo Shaz and Mona, together with their son Ash who has autism, set up the business to make a difference for autistic adults. Providing training and employment opportunities, 60p from every £1 of profit also funds social activities and personal development tools for their invaluable employees.

Their Easter eggs are a sight to behold. And if you’re trying to track down a gluten-free Easter egg then you can’t do better than Harry Specters. Taking a painterly approach to their decorative chocolate eggs, they offer delicious flavours such as caramel chocolate and the perfectly pink ruby chocolate (that tastes like white chocolate, fyi).

 

 

Easter chocolates for kids

The Easter bunny is a bit of a big deal at this time of year. So, these sweet white chocolate bunnies are sure to delight the little ones this Easter. They’re made by Grace Chocolates who are on a mission to support women who’ve been touched by the Scottish criminal justice system. Every truffle and chocolate is handmade with the finest Belgian chocolate.

Drinking Chocolate

Get this. Toast Ale have joined forces with Divine Chocolate. That’s right – the B Corp social enterprise beer brand on a mission to fix our food system and stamp out food wasste has teamed up with the OG Fairtrade chocolate makers. The result? A chocolate stout that beer drinkers will surely love. It forms a part of Toast Ale’s Rise Up series – collaborations that they’re launching in the lead up to COP26, the global climate change conference, to raise awareness of issues surrounding food, the environment and climate change.

If you’re more of a cocktail drinker, you’ll be delighted to discover FAIR. drinks’ cacao liqueur. The first Fairtrade drinks brand has infused Fairtrade cocoa nibs from Peru with a vodka base to create this unique drink. Serve it up using FAIR.’s cacao Manhattan recipe. The most grown-up way to celebrate this Easter.For a family-friendly drinking chocolate treat, there’s Refuge Chocolate. This chocolate-obsessed brand is also dairy-free, free of nuts, gluten and palm oil. Oh, and Refuge supports Flourish NI with every purchase – an anti-human trafficking charity. Their hot chocolate is the best out there – you’d never know there’s no dairy. It’s as rich and smooth as melted chocolate. A decadent drink!

Chocolate lovers

If you just can’t decide, then don’t fret. We’ve curated the very best chocolate-y goodies in our hampers and gift boxes that are perfect for presents or getting in a whole host of treats for Easter weekend.

We created the Easter Chocolicous gift box off the back of our popular Chocolicious hamper. Or perhaps you want to send a gift that will fit through the letterbox – ideal if your loved-one might be out walking the dog. In which cases, there’s our Chocolate Lover letterbox gift – a great sampler of Chocolate & Love, Harry Specters and Divine chocolate bars. From employing autistic adults to supporting reforestation projects, they’ll love the messages behind these purpose-driven chocolate brands.

 

Check out even more social enterprise and purpose-led chocolate products to try this Easter and beyond.