With the holiday season underway, many are looking to make the celebrations special with a variety of confectioneries and other baked goods.
For this Thanksgiving, here are five Black-owned candy and baked goods companies to buy from for a sweet treat.
- Chocolate Therapy: Founded approximately 13 years ago by owners Pam and David Griffin, Chocolate Therapy is a Black-owned chocolate company that makes homemade products with “memorable flavors” through unique ingredients and spices. The company offers customers products with fun flavors, mixing dark chocolate with ingredients such as blueberry, basil, lemon and cayenne. Chocolate Therapy’s main goal is to help their consumers learn more about the healthy effects dark chocolate can have on the body.
- Lizzie Lu Luxury Treats: Named after baker Elizabeth Jones, Lizzie Lu Luxury Treats was founded in 2019 by her granddaughters, T’Juanna Winters and her sister, who both learned her craft. Dedicated to honoring the late Jones, the company values the importance of creating a connection among customers as well as giving back. Lizzie Lu Luxury Treats offers a variety of products that can help satisfy each customer’s sweet tooth. Along with Butter Almond Toffee Bark, they offer shoppers goods like Cookies & Cream Caramel Apples, Butter Cake, Carrot Cake Shookie and Grape Pickles.
- Midunu Chocolates: Devoted to celebrating “the African story through Chocolate,” Midunu Chocolates is led by Chef Selassie Atadika and her all-female team of chocolatiers. Every product is made from chocolate originating from Ghana; all cocoa beans are fermented in plantain and banana leaves before being made by the team. Products include the Adwoa Dark Chocolate hot chocolate mix, Cocoa Nib Chai tea and the Cocoa Comfort Kit.
- Askanya Chocolates: Considered to be Haiti’s “First Premier Bean-To-Bar Chocolate Company,” Askanya Chocolates is also woman-owned. Each product is made from scratch with each bean going through the process of being roasted, winnowed and grinded. Each product is also guaranteed to be bitter-free, regardless of how much cocoa is in it. Paradis Milk Chocolate Bar, Minuit Dark Chocolate Bar and Bouquet Vert Lime Chocolate Bar are all available to buy on the company’s website.
- Sweet Dames Artisan Bakery: Created by founder Genelle Drayton, Sweet Dames Artisan Bakery is the product of Drayton’s love of entertaining after first catering an event at 10 years old. Nurtured by her grandparents, her main goal is to bring joy and fun to her customers with each product. Goods include cocomallow sandwiches, chocolate dipped coconut macaroons and chocolate CoCoBark.
