At PhycoHealth, we believe that indulgence can be nutritious. That’s why we’ve created Mermaid Medley – a delectable blend of organic pure dark cacao and nourishing seaweed. This unique chocolate is designed to fortify your diet with rich antioxidants and essential nutrients, including iron from the seaweed.
We have partnered with our local chocolate connoisseurs at Tilda and Cacao, who really know their chocolate, to combine their expertise in chocolate with our expertise in seaweed. Not only that, their focus on sustainable solutions is fully aligned with PhycoHealth's mission. The cacao in their fully plant based 70% chocolate is sourced from UTZ Certified Organic farmers in Peru.
Chocolate is a part of more sustainable solutions in our consumption
Did you know:
- There are nearly 6 million cacao farmers in the world,
- 90% of cacao farms are small, at less than 5ha,
- Over 50 million people are employed in the cacao sector,
- The chocolate industry as a whole is valued at over $100B which is far bigger than the whole of Australia's agricultural output all together,
- The biggest producing countries are in Africa, SE Asia, and Ecuador,
- Climate change is already affecting productivity,
- The Netherlands, Germany and the USA are the biggest importers of cacao, but the big brands are not delivering well on ethical and sustainable sourcing, or quality products,
- 20 years ago there were no sustainability standards in the cacao industry,
- Today at least 30% of the cacao industry has sustainability standards applied,
- Peruvian chocolate is approaching 50% sustainability standards, which is second only to the Dominican Republic for the Americas and Carribean sources,
- BUT, the global supply of sustainable and ethical cacao products exceeds demand!!
We need to get more people to make the switch! There is a path for change in the chocolate industry, but we as the consumer need to consume less, better and slightly more expensive chocolate that truly represents the value chain. Buying chocolate with quality and providence in mind can enhance farmers' livelihoods, promote trade, and provide price transparency across value chains.
The collaboration between PhycoHealth and Tilda and Cacao, and the birth of Mermaid Medley, has resulted in one of the healthiest and tastiest solutions for you and your conscience about your footprint on the planet. A partnership made in heaven for your taste buds and from the earth and sea for the planet. Together we will embark on a mission to communicate and qualify how we can make sustainability align with value to the consumer.
Ancient Wisdom and Modern Rediscovery
Research has shown that the people of the Americas over 12,000 years ago had middens with seaweed remains, demonstrating that seaweed was essential to human health even then and the establishment of the first people in South America. These early humans recognized the nutritional benefits of seaweed long before modern science did.
And later, but still thousands of years ago, they discovered chocolate too with the first records of use being from the Olmecs in middle America. Then the Aztecs had developed it's use to believe that chocolate was a gift from the gods. Perhaps Mermaid Medley is just our reinvention of the wisdom of the ancient South Americans by combining these two powerful foods.
Imagine if chocolate was your medicine...
Fast forward to the 16th century, chocolate arrived in Europe and quickly became a favorite treat among the aristocracy. Today, it is mostly diluted with lots of sugar, milk and other processing ingredients to become associated with poor health.
Today, we know that real dark chocolate, like our Peruvian Criollo cacao, is not only delicious but also packed with health benefits. Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants, which can help protect your cells from damage. It also contains iron, magnesium, and a host of other essential minerals that support overall health:
Clinical Benefits of Seaweed in Chocolate
Did you know that a green seaweed in chocolate trial, like Mermaid Medley, was tested in clinical studies to reduce anemia in teenage girls? Within 6 weeks and a regular small dose of the chocolate their blood iron levels improved significantly. Iron deficiency is still a serious global health issue. With the addition of iron-rich green seaweed, Mermaid Medley offers a delicious way to help combat iron deficiency.
Fruity and vibrant, Mermaid Medley offers rich cacao notes with a sweet finish. The silky texture, combined with just the right resistance from seaweed and fruit chunks, creates a truly unique tasting experience. We use rich Peruvian raw organic Criollo cacao, blended with our Seaweed and Fruit Straps, to bring you a chocolate that is both nutritious and delicious.
So, why not celebrate World Chocolate Day by indulging in a treat that’s good for you? Try our Mermaid Medley and discover the perfect blend of taste and nutrition.
