> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://thechocolatelife.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # December 2025 News & AMA | #PSC 165 - URL: https://thechocolatelife.com/december-2025-news-ama-psc-ep-165/ - Published: 2025-12-01T22:43:43.000Z - Updated: 2025-12-02T16:35:15.000Z - Description: Episode 165 of #PodSaveChocolate features chocolate news that’s fit to eat and AMA/Ask me Anything (about chocolate and cocoa) for December 2025. - Author: Clay Gordon - Tags: PodSaveChocolate, Live Stream, #Footnote **When and Where to Watch** 🗓️ This stream begins at 11:00 ****MST** (10:00 PST, 12:00 CST, 1:00 pm EST), on Tuesday, Dec 2nd, 2025. Links below to watch LIVE and to view the archived episode. This ****YOUTUBE** link is shareable. [![CTA Image](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/11/ytlogo256x256.png)](https://youtube.com/live/csgwtMBM0Ok?ref=thechocolatelife.com) Watch and comment LIVE or view the archived episode! Subscribe (free!) to the [@PodSaveChocolate YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@podsavechocolate/featured?ref=thechocolatelife.com), like this video, comment, and ****share** this episode to help grow the #PSC community. [Watch this episode on YouTube ](https://youtube.com/live/csgwtMBM0Ok?ref=thechocolatelife.com) This ****LINKEDIN** link is shareable. [![CTA Image](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/05/LinkedInLogo.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/claygordon%5Fpodsavechocolate-lavidacocoa-thechocolatelife-activity-7401389671785897986-iMLK?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fdesktop&rcm=ACoAAAABaLUB44l0lzyoZ9nf9Lg8nfstgzLqxbg) Watch and comment LIVE or view the archived episode on LinkedIn. Join my network on LinkedIn to receive notifications and to refer business to each other. [Watch this episode on LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/claygordon%5Fpodsavechocolate-lavidacocoa-thechocolatelife-activity-7401389671785897986-iMLK?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fdesktop&rcm=ACoAAAABaLUB44l0lzyoZ9nf9Lg8nfstgzLqxbg) This ****FACEBOOK** link is shareabl [![CTA Image](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/05/FacebookLogo.png)](https://www.facebook.com/share/1AVy3hEzGp/) Watch and comment LIVE or view the archived episode on ****TheChocolateLife page** on Facebook (for 30 days, then watch the archive on YouTube). Follow [TheChocolateLife on Facebook ](https://fb.me/thechocolatelife?ref=thechocolatelife.com)to receive notifications and catch up on other content. [Watch this episode on Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/share/1AVy3hEzGp/) --- ## **Episode 165 Overview** In this episode: News that’s fit to eat for December, 2025! People participating live can Ask Me Anything in the chat at any point during the episode. Topics lined up to be covered include: ### **The Ongoing Saga of the Cost of Cocoa** | **MARKETS** | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | [Futures Prices](https://www.barchart.com/futures/quotes/CC%2A0/futures-prices?ref=thechocolatelife.com) / [Futures Overview](https://www.barchart.com/futures/quotes/CC%2A0/overview?ref=thechocolatelife.com) – Barchart.com | | [Graph](https://tradingeconomics.com/commodity/cocoa?ref=thechocolatelife.com) – Trading Economics | | [ICCO Pricing Stats](https://www.icco.org/statistics/?ref=thechocolatelife.com#tab-id-1) | | **Breaking**: [Whither the EUDR?](https://cocoaradar.com/news-briefing-eudr-delay-negotiations-what-the-cocoa-sector-needs-to-know/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) | **Patterns and trends** - Regulatory pragmatism: Streamlining downstream obligations is a shift from “everyone files” toward a single “first‑importer anchor,” reducing redundant statements while keeping traceability and supplier knowledge in place. - Time pressure: Parliament adopted its position on **26 Nov 2025**, with explicit warnings that *if discussions aren’t finished by mid‑December*, the original dates apply for **medium/large on 30 Dec 2025** and **micro/small on 30 Jun 2026**. - Cocoa‑specific angle: The sector expects an extra year for large operators (to **30 Dec 2026**) if the delay passes, but remains cautious (“too early to foresee implications,” per WCF). - Ongoing calibration: The planned **April 2026** simplification review signals the EU expects to iterate implementation details without lowering environmental standards. --- ### **More News** | **TL;DR?** | browsing headlines | | ---------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **News?** | [Top Chocolate News from Google News](https://news.google.com/search?q=chocolate&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en&ref=thechocolatelife.com) | | **News** | [Rocher now available in a new shape](https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/114503-ferrero-rocher-now-come-in-squares?ref=thechocolatelife.com) *Will the change lead to conspiracy theories about changes in the recipe?* | | **News** | [Hershey jumps on the “Dubai” chocolate bandwagon](https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/114781-hersheys-reveals-dubai-inspired-chocolate-bar?ref=thechocolatelife.com) – LTO little, LTO late? | | **M&A** | [Ritter Sport buys Chocolove](https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/114783-ritter-sport-snaps-up-chocolove?ref=thechocolatelife.com) | | **Op Ed** | [Why Premium Hot Chocolate Is the Winter Drink Americans Can’t Get Enough Of](https://www.miamiherald.com/living/food-drink/article313138672.html?ref=thechocolatelife.com) | | **Dates** | [CHOCOA 2026 day-by-day schedule announced](https://www.chocoa.nl/event?ref=thechocolatelife.com): Trade Fair (18–20 Feb); Festival (21–22 Feb) | | **Dates** | [Dates are going viral](https://www.inc.com/danielle-wiener-bronner/dates-are-going-viral-farmers-are-leaning-in-heres-why/91241853?ref=thechocolatelife.com) | --- ### **Closer Look** [International Researchers Allege Widespread Errors in Smallholder Coffee Mapping, Offer DatasetA new open-access dataset called Sample Earth aims to fix what its creators call a critical flaw in the global coffee and cocoa trade: maps.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-180x180-26.png)Daily Coffee News by Roast MagazineNick Brown![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/coffee-forest.jpg)](https://dailycoffeenews.com/2025/11/25/international-researchers-allege-widespread-errors-in-smallholder-coffee-mapping-offer-dataset/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) [Download the dataset ](https://dataverse.harvard.edu/dataset.xhtml?persistentId=doi:10.7910/DVN/U7HWY1&ref=thechocolatelife.com)on Harvard Dataverse [Fairtrade Plans Major Standards Overhaul for Coffee and Other CropsFairtrade International is planning a sweeping overhaul of the standards that govern Fairtrade-certified coffee and other crops.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-180x180-27.png)Daily Coffee News by Roast MagazineNick Brown![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/Fairtrade-coffee-2.jpg)](https://dailycoffeenews.com/2025/11/26/fairtrade-plans-major-standards-overhaul-for-coffee-and-other-crops/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) They announce an overhaul with, apparently, no specifics about what will be overhauled. From the story: > Coffee is one of Fairtrade’s original and largest products. Earlier this year, [the organization reported](https://www.fairtrade.net/content/dam/fairtrade/fairtrade-switzerland/produte/kaffee/Fairtrade%5FCoffee%5FImpact%5Fat%5Fa%5Fglance%5F2025%5Fdd5f341b82%20%281%29.pdf?ref=thechocolatelife.com) that producer organizations harvested about 578,000 metric tons of Fairtrade coffee in 2023, with nearly 775,000 coffee farmers in the system. Approximately half of that volume was also organic-certified. In 2023, producer cooperatives took in €82.4 million ($95.4 million) in Fairtrade premiums. 1. 578,000 MT from 775,000 farmers is an average of about 750kg per farmer. 2. $95.4 million in premiums spread across 775,000 farmers is an average premium payment of about $123 per farmer (and about $165/MT). 3. However, only part of the certified volume is sold with the Fairtrade minimum price and premium attached. ***The 2025 report noted that certified cooperatives sold, on average, \[just\] 35%* *\[emphasis added\] of their coffee on Fairtrade terms in 2023.*** --- ### **More “Hot” Trends** [What Makes Italian Hot Chocolate So Thick And Luscious - The TakeoutItalian hot chocolate is a little different from the kind we’re used to in the U.S.; it’s thick, creamy, and decadent, with a deep rich chocolate flavor.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/the-takeout-favicon.png)The TakeoutMaria Scinto![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/l-intro-1764005859.jpg)](https://www.thetakeout.com/2034925/why-italian-hot-chocolate-is-thick/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) | **More HotChoc** | | | ---------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Recipe** | [How to make hot chocolate 10x better](https://parade.com/food/cardamom-hot-chocolate-recipe-review?ref=thechocolatelife.com) | | **Recipe** | [Earl Grey Hot Chocolate](https://www.thekitchn.com/earl-grey-hot-chocolate-review-23758071?ref=thechocolatelife.com) | | **Experience** | [The Hot Cocoa Flight](https://arc.net/l/quote/uowwojsa?ref=thechocolatelife.com) | | **Guide** | [Grocery Store Hot Chocolate Mixes Ranked From Best To Worst](https://www.mashed.com/2027897/best-grocery-store-hot-chocolate-mixes-ranked/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) | --- ### **Future Episodes** 🗓️ Friday, December 5th ****AVPA Update** --- ### **Episode Hashtags** #News #AMA #AskMeAnything #cocoa #cacao #cacau #chocolate #chocolat #craftchocolate #PodSaveChoc #PSC #LaVidaCocoa #TheChocolateLife --- ### **#PodSaveChocolate and #TheChocolateLifeLIVE Archives** **To read an archived post** and find the links to watch archived episodes, click on one of the bookmark cards, below. [Pod Save Chocolate Calendar and ArchiveNews, views, and conversations on topics in cocoa and chocolate streamed live to YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook. #PodSaveChocolate!![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2020/12/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons.png)The Chocolate LifeClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2023/11/TagImageBanner-PodSaveChocTagFinal_1920x1080-5.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/pod-save-chocolate-calendar-and-archive/) [#TheChocolateLifeLIVE ArchiveNews, views, and conversations on topics in cocoa and chocolate streamed live to YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2020/12/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons.png)The Chocolate LifeClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2023/03/solen-feyissa-WG7v_wYZW4Q-unsplash-CalendarFeatured1920x1080.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/thechocolatelife-live-calendar/) [PodSaveChocolateHosted by Clay Gordon, the creator and moderator of TheChocolateLife.com, #PodSaveChocolate covers a wide variety of topics in the worlds of cocoa and chocolate. The video versions of this podcast are hosted and archived on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Click on the PodSaveChocolate link in the top nav on TheChocolateLife for the links to the post accompanying each episode.![](https://pnc.st/static/img/256x256.png)Pinecast![](https://social.pinecast.net/preview_card/podcasts/covers/d3730dca-0711-4720-9ef3-3b18918c1f0d/TagImageBanner-PodSaveChocTagFinal_1920x1080.jpg?title=PodSaveChocolate)](https://pnc.st/s/podsavechocolate?ref=thechocolatelife.com) Audio-only podcasts --- ## Not a Member? Live The Chocolate Life – Live La Vida Cocoa! Sign up for Free to comment and receive members-only content. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. 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