Naive

From eastern Lithuania, Domantas Užpalis makes Chocolate Naive bean to bar, pairing cacao with savory and fruit flavors in what the brand calls a spirit of experiment.

About Naive

Based in
Lithuania
Founded
2011
Known for
bean-to-bar chocolate with unusual savory and fruit pairings

Chocolate Naive was founded by Domantas Užpalis, who makes chocolate from the cacao bean in what the brand calls a little town on the eastern side of Lithuania. The company's own fact sheet dates it to 2011. The team roasts, winnows, conches and tempers on site, and the brand describes roasting beans fresh and rolling and conching them slowly to bring out flavor.

The brand says it works in a spirit of experiment, pairing cacao with savory ingredients such as mushrooms, smoke and dry-aged beef as well as fruit.

Naive questions

What does bean-to-bar mean at Chocolate Naive?

It means Naive starts from raw cacao beans instead of melting down chocolate bought from another maker. At its factory the team roasts the beans, winnows them (cracks them and separates the shells), then conches and tempers. Conching is long, slow mixing of the liquid chocolate that refines it and draws out its aromas; tempering is a careful melting and setting step that gives a bar its gloss and crisp snap.

Where is Chocolate Naive made?

In eastern Lithuania: the company lists its address in Užugriovis, in the Vilnius district, where it also runs factory tours and tastings. Cocoa comes from countries in a belt within about 10 degrees north and south of the equator, far from Lithuania, so the raw beans are shipped there and turned into chocolate.

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Where it comes from See Naive on our producer map (Lithuania) More producers from Lithuania