I cannot provide an "apples to apples" review of this chocolate yet because the label only includes ingredients and not nutrition details.
There has been some on-going confusion, so let me be clear: even though I'm reviewing Gnosis Chocolate on this site, it is NOT an MLM chocolate. It is sold in retail locations. If you're looking for a raw dark chocolate business opportunity, I have joined a company called ChocoNat. I encourage you to check it out, as they offer raw, organic, fair trade dark chocolate and a tremendous business model.
Gnosis Chocolate Review
Summary:
Raw.
Organic.
No Sugar. (Uses low-glycemic agave nectar.)
Blue green algae ("Crystal Manna") added.
Handmade. NO SOY lecithin. Sold in Earth-friendly packaging too!
(Additional health benefits from other ingredients based on the flavor of the bar. This review covers their basic chocolate, called "Simplicity.")
When my wife first saw Gnosis chocolate featured in Spirituality and Health magazine, I imagined it would be another so-called healthy chocolate -- possibly even organic -- that was still loaded with sugar. But I was wrong.
Not only was I wrong, but this chocolate is one of the most unique on the market, and possibly the healthiest. [Since writing this review, I've come to discover many other raw, organic chocolates with similar integrity put into them, including ChocoNat. This is a very nice movement.]
To give you an immediate sense of how special this chocolate is, every bar is hand-made by the founder of Gnosis Chocolate, Vanessa Barg, and her team of "Oompa Loompas."
Although this may test the beliefs of some readers, there is scientific research underway about how our thoughts and intentions actually affect water and food. Definite, repeatable results have shown on a microscopic level how cellular relationships change based on the input of intention. So if you accept this forward-thinking concept, it says a LOT that Vanessa and her carefully selected team invest themselves in every bar. She explicitly says that they put a loving intention into every bar they make.
Of course this doesn't mean as much if she's using low-quality ingredients, but she uses the best. The cacao content is organic, and rather than using sugar, she uses natural agave nectar, which is very low on the glycemic index, so that it never spikes a person's blood sugar (good news for diabetics and those trying to lose weight).
[She has also traveled to her chocolate and agave sources to verify the integrity with which they're grown and processed. Click here for her report.]
Even better, all of her chocolate bars include "crystal manna," which is a form of blue/green algae -- a nutrient-dense, green superfood. Other Gnosis Chocolate bars include a variety of healthy ingredients, from various fruits to spices, herbs, and more.
(The Superchoc is an AMAZING blend of ingredients that you have to see to believe. And Acai Pomegranate is my favorite.)
Maybe most important of all, this chocolate is fully raw. Since cooking any food, including chocolate, can compromise the nutritional elements, this is important. My guess is that, when testing is done, we'll find that this chocolate boasts a higher ORAC score and overall nutrient content than cooked chocolates, and I expect that the benefits of the neurotransmitters in the chocolate will be greater.
By the way ... Vanessa also does NOT use soy lecithin as an emulsifier in her chocolate. Most chocolate use this for producing the right texture, but she does not.
As for the experience, Gnosis Chocolate is slightly soft (not the same "snap" as most chocolate). In just looking at it, I've had one client say that it looked almost like fudge. It is rich and not over sweet. It is, in short, a grand, dark chocolate experience that has captured virtually everyone I've given a sample to.
VALUE
Ounce for ounce, Gnosis Chocolate is more expensive than network marketing chocolates (so is all the raw chocolate I've seen in retail settings), but I believe it's healthier than any of them and of course there's no minimum monthly requirement on how much to buy since it's sold through retail. With 6 servings per bar, you can purchase just 5 bars a month (about $45) to feed your chocolate craving in an incredibly healthy way on a daily basis.
[ChocoNat is now the exception: it is raw, organic, and fair trade, so I consider it as healthy. And ounce for ounce, ChocoNat costs less than any retail raw chocolate I've seen, including Gnosis. You can stay active as a member for an autoship of just $63/month.]
Here's a breakdown of costs (at the time of this writing):
Gnosis Chocolate: $1.50 / 9 gram serving. No monthly requirement, as it's not sold via MLM.
Xocai Chocolate: $1.10 / 12 gram serving. $39 fee to join. Required monthly cost of $110. (Retails for $1.50 / 12 gram serving.)
ChocoNat: $1.26 / 10 gram serving. No fee to join. Required monthly cost of $63. (Retails for $1.60 to $1.80 / 10 gram serving.)
Tru Chocolate: Was $1.40 / 8 gram serving. No longer sold via MLM. Not sure of the current cost.
IsaDelight Chocolate: Unknown cost but not recommended.
