Julie McLean loves chocolate so much she has made it her job. A former Tulsan, she began Sibu Sura, a chocolate company in Myersville, Md., that prides itself as being the first in the area to produce chocolate from the cacao bean. Using the highest quality, hand-selected beans from Peru assures that the final product will meet McLean’s high standards.
Although she founded the company in 2007 in her Virginia basement, the factory doors didn’t open until April 2012.
“We pride ourselves in providing the highest quality products while engaging in Fair Trade practices and supporting sustainable agriculture,” she says.
Feeling that chocolate could be higher quality than what is currently on the market, McLean began experimenting with different formulas until she found the perfect flavor and texture.
“The name Sibu Sura comes from a creation myth from the northern Andes that tells about the important role that cacao plays in restoring the balance of nature and the origins of life,” she says.
Locally, Sibu Sura Funky Bars, roasted cocoa nibs and solid milk/dark chocolate bars are available at Akin’s Natural Foods.
