For a small afternoon tea break, choose a compact box with counted portions; a larger sharing assortment makes more sense when more people will be served. Check the Fairtrade claim on the exact box, because a mark covering one sourced ingredient does not make the same claim about every ingredient. Before serving an assortment, read its current ingredient and allergen information for every flavour.
If Fairtrade is central to your choice, look at the mark and wording on the particular box. The Fairtrade Foundation distinguishes a standard FAIRTRADE Mark from a Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient Mark, which identifies a Fairtrade-sourced ingredient rather than making the same claim about the whole product.
Counted, individually wrapped pieces let guests take a portion with tea or coffee. A larger assortment may fit a bigger group, but its size and mix deserve a closer look before you choose it for a short break.
Check the current ingredients, allergen declarations and any precautionary wording for the exact box. Different flavours in one assortment can have different ingredients, so a flavour description or picture of the outer box is not enough.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade claim | Read the mark and product-specific wording on the box. The Fairtrade Foundation says the standard FAIRTRADE Mark covers ingredients that can be Fairtrade-certified, while the Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient Mark identifies a sourced ingredient. Check the pack’s traceability explanation if that distinction matters to you. | I want to know whether the claim applies to the box’s eligible ingredients or to a named ingredient such as cocoa. |
| Portions and format | Compare the piece count, weight and type of assortment with the number of people sharing. Tony’s Chocolonely describes its Tiny Tony’s Gift Box as 20 bite-size pieces in a 180g box; Whitakers describes its Family Sharing Box as a 630g assortment. | For a short break with a few people, I would rather offer counted pieces than open a large sharing box. If more guests are coming, I need enough portions for the group. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredient and allergen information for the exact box and its flavours, including any ‘may contain’ statements. Do not assume that every piece in a mixed assortment has the same ingredients. | Someone at the tea table may need to avoid a particular ingredient, so I need to check the whole assortment before putting it out. |
General sustainability wording and a product-specific Fairtrade mark do not communicate the same thing. The Fairtrade Foundation also distinguishes the standard FAIRTRADE Mark from the Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient Mark.
Use the mark and wording on the current box to identify what is covered. If the claim names an ingredient, check which ingredient it is.
Mixed chocolates can differ from piece to piece. Tony’s Chocolonely and Whitakers list allergens and precautionary statements for their assortments, making the detailed information important when serving others.
Read the full current ingredient list and allergen information for the exact assortment before buying it for someone with a known allergy or setting it out for guests.
A larger assortment does not necessarily match a brief tea break with a small group. It can also contain more types of chocolate to assess when guests have dietary restrictions.
Start with the number of people and the portions you intend to serve, then decide whether a compact counted box or a larger sharing format fits the occasion.
These brands describe particular Fairtrade chocolate-box ranges or products; check the claim and ingredients on the exact box you choose.
The maker describes its 180g Tiny Tony’s Gift Box as a box of 20 bite-size pieces across eight flavours, with Fairtrade-certified cocoa and portions intended to accompany tea or coffee.
Chocolate and Love describes its gift-box range as organic and Fairtrade and includes small napolitain formats for serving alongside tea or coffee.
Whitakers describes its 630g Fairtrade Family Sharing Box as an assortment of milk and dark chocolate products for sharing.
This counted Tiny Tony’s box is an option for a small tea or coffee break. Check the current pack’s Fairtrade wording and full allergen information before buying it to share.
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For a small tea or coffee break, this counted box offers individually wrapped pieces. Tony’s Chocolonely describes the matching 180g Tiny Tony’s gift box as containing 20 bite-size pieces across eight flavours and Fairtrade-certified cocoa. Check the current pack for the precise Fairtrade claim and full ingredient and allergen information before serving it.
The Fairtrade Foundation says the standard FAIRTRADE Mark means ingredients that can be Fairtrade-certified have been purchased on Fairtrade terms. A Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient Mark instead identifies a particular Fairtrade-sourced ingredient, such as cocoa, so read the wording beside the mark.
Yes, under the mass-balance approach described by Fairtrade International. Fairtrade and non-Fairtrade cocoa may be mixed during manufacturing while volumes sold on Fairtrade terms are tracked and audited. Read the pack’s traceability information if you want to understand its cocoa claim.
Check the current ingredient list, declared allergens and any precautionary wording for the exact box, including its different flavours. Mixed assortments described by Tony’s Chocolonely and Whitakers include ingredients or allergen statements that vary across their components.
Choose counted small portions when only a few people will take a chocolate with tea or coffee. For a larger group, compare the piece count or box weight with the number of guests, then check every component’s ingredients before choosing a mixed sharing assortment.