CHANTILLY, Va. — 'Tis the season for gift giving! As you plan your holiday lists, consider supporting your community by shopping small. There are so many unique shops in the DMV, whether you're looking for gifts for office gift exchanges, hostess gifts, or someone special in your life — we set out to find some great ideas for you.
We're starting in Fairfax County at River-Sea Chocolates in Chantilly. Owners Krissee and Mariano D'Aguiar are connecting a bridge between their life in D.C. and their community in Brazil. They're doing it in an eco-friendly way that doesn't require cutting down the rain forest and leaves the plant canopy and wildlife to thrive.
Krissee D'Aguiar said River-Sea is also unique in the DMV, because it's the only shop in the area that also makes their chocolate on site.
"We get cacao beans and then we roast them and grind them into chocolate. It takes about a week to turn the beans into an actual chocolate bar," she said.
Krissee D'Aguiar said River-Sea has relationships with farmers who grow the beans. They work with farmers in Brazil, Dominican Republic, Thailand, Tanzania and elsewhere.
D'Aguiar said her passion for chocolate goes back generations.
"I feel like I wouldn't even exist if it weren't for chocolate," she said.
She explained that her mother was born a premature baby in Romania. She said back then, they would give premature babies chocolate. She said he grandfather had to trade his stamp collection to get the best quality chocolate for his baby daughter.
She started making chocolate with her husband Mariano, who is from Brazil, in 2017.
"My son climbed a cacao tree that was in Mariano's cousin's backyard and came down with a cacao pod and was like, 'Can we make some chocolate with it?'"
Krissee said the reason she wanted to bring her chocolate to D.C. is because it's such a multicultural hub.
"A lot of people don't know that just like wine or coffee, cacao from different parts of the world has different flavors, too."
River-Sea has more than straight dark chocolate. They have bars with fruits and nuts, and even cherry blossoms.
Can't decide on a chocolate? River-Sea has an exotic chocolate lovers club. Krissee said the club, along with chocolate tastings at the factory, has been an important part of establishing community.
For more information, and to shop online, click here.