One Woman's Quest To Tell 'The African Story Through Chocolate'

When I meet Ghanaian chocolatier Selassie Atadika, the first thing she does is pull a box of chocolates out of her bag. Then, introductions aside, she launches into a story.

It's a story of melding chocolate and spices, of straddling Africa and America, and of connecting cultures and people through taste.

Atadika opens the box of chocolates and points to a powdery green confection in the middle. "This is moringa with white chocolate. Moringa is a leaf, it's known to have medicinal properties." The inside looks like a pale green marzipan, but the taste is mild and grassy, and the mouthfeel is of a dense ganache.

Another truffle has a pattern of cocoa, a Ghanaian plant whose fragrant pods are traditionally used to flavor soups. is at risk of extinction due to deforestation, and Atadika notes that the spice has been included in , which aims to protect culinary heritage. The taste is nuanced, both fruit and peppery, and utterly delicious.