Taylor Kennedy launched Sirene Chocolate in 2013 from a backyard workshop in Victoria, Canada. Sirene pays homage to the flora and fauna of this renowned and beautiful coastal rainforest area through a series of custom watercolours on our packaging by local artist Aimee Van Drimmelen.

For many years prior to Sirene's launch, Taylor Kennedy had set out to master the art and science of chocolate making as well as the skills needed to run a business. In between working at National Geographic in various photographic roles and raising a family, Taylor taught himself the long and persnickety process of making truly delicious, single-origin chocolate.

Ethical business in partnership with farmers and local businesses

Much of the world’s chocolate business relies on inhumane labour conditions and vast inequality between farmers and chocolate makers. Sirene, from the start, has worked only with smaller farms that both grow delicious cacao beans, and are dedicated to good and fair working conditions for their teams. Sirene is not fair trade, we are direct trade. Fair Trade only pays about 15% higher than the commodity price established by commodity brokers in New York or London stock exchanges. Sirene pays from a minimum of 300% to as high as 550% more than that price. Considering the fact that from the late 1970’s to 2024 the commodity price of cocoa essentially didn’t change, we aim to be fair and compensate farmers as they should be for their hard work.

Nothing goes to waste in our factory: our husks are used to make delicious drinks at Sheringham Distillery Chocolate Liqueur and Spinnakers Chocolate Gin, various Catagory 12 and Whistlebuouy Brewery beers, as well as collaborations with a variety of local tea, soap and other companies. If you need husks or jute bags for any reason, give us a shout -- we are happy to send some your way!

To give a little to our beautiful coastal area we are also a sponsor of Ucluelet Aquarium in the gorgeous Clayoquot Sound. Canada's first catch and release aquarium, it is a really fun and educational stop.

Organic, nut-free, gluten-free. Recyclable packaging

We want as many people as possible to enjoy our chocolate, so in addition to being organic, all chocolate is made in our nut-free, soy-free and gluten-free workshop. We craft both vegan and non-vegan chocolates, all of which have won international awards. All our packaging is recyclable or compostable so we can be as soft on this planet as we reasonably can be.