Why We Carry Mast Market: The Story Behind the Chocolate
Not everything we carry at M.S Skincare is applied to the skin. Some of it is consumed slowly, with intention, in a quiet moment that belongs entirely to you.
Mast Market chocolate is that kind of thing.
When we considered adding chocolate to our edit, the bar was high. It had to be organic. It had to be made from clean, simple ingredients with nothing hidden in the fine print. It had to be genuinely good, the kind of chocolate that asks you to slow down and pay attention. And it had to feel at home next to everything else we carry.
Mast Market met every standard.
Who Is Mast Market?
Mast Market was founded in 2010 in Brooklyn, New York, by brothers Rick and Michael Mast. What began as a small-batch chocolate operation out of a Brooklyn apartment grew into one of the most recognized names in American craft chocolate. Their philosophy has never changed: use the fewest, cleanest ingredients possible, source organic cacao, and let the chocolate speak for itself.
Every bar is certified organic, vegan, kosher, and gluten free. There are no emulsifiers, no artificial flavors, no fillers. The ingredient lists are short by design. Organic cacao, organic cane sugar, and whatever makes each bar distinct: a handful of California almonds, a pinch of hand-harvested Maine sea salt, a scattering of roasted cocoa nibs.
That restraint is a form of respect, for the ingredient, for the person eating it, and for the craft.
Why Chocolate Belongs in a Wellness Edit
Cacao is one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet. It is among the richest dietary sources of magnesium, a mineral that supports muscle recovery, nervous system regulation, and sleep quality. It contains flavanols, a class of antioxidants that support cardiovascular health and cognitive function. It stimulates the release of serotonin and endorphins, which is why a square of good dark chocolate in the afternoon feels like a small act of self-care rather than an indulgence.
The key word is good. Highly processed chocolate, loaded with refined sugar and additives, does not carry the same benefits. The closer the chocolate is to the cacao bean, the more of those properties remain intact. An 80% organic dark chocolate bar with a short ingredient list is a fundamentally different product from a mass-market candy bar, and the body responds to it differently.
This is why cacao has been used ceremonially and medicinally across cultures for thousands of years, from the Olmec and Maya civilizations of Mesoamerica to modern cacao ceremony practices. The plant has always been understood as something more than a treat.
The Bars Worth Knowing
Start with the Organic Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt. A customer favorite for over 15 years, and for good reason. The sea salt is hand-harvested off the coast of Maine, mineral-rich and delicate, and it does something remarkable to the 70% Tanzanian cacao underneath it: it amplifies the sweetness, brightens the fruit notes, and creates a textural contrast that is genuinely luxurious. This is the bar that converts people.
The Organic Dark Chocolate with Almonds and Sea Salt is the same 70% base with roasted California almonds chopped and folded in. Equal parts crunchy and smooth, nutty and chocolatey. It is the kind of bar you reach for when you want something more substantial, something that satisfies completely.
For those who prefer their chocolate dark and complex, the Organic Dark Chocolate 80% Cacao is the one. Smooth despite its intensity, with bright notes of berries, bergamot, and sourdough bread. The least sugar of any bar in the line. This is the bar for the person who takes their chocolate seriously.
The Organic Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao is the everyday driver. Rich, timeless, with notes of dark ganache and fudge brownie. A touch sweeter than the 80%, which rounds the edges and makes it endlessly approachable. The bar you keep on your desk.
And for those who love milk chocolate but want something cleaner, the Organic Oat Milk Chocolate 50% Cacao is the answer. Creamy, never cloying, with notes of caramel, strawberries, and cream. Made with oat milk instead of dairy, certified vegan, and genuinely satisfying in a way that most milk chocolate alternatives are not.
The Organic Oat Milk Chocolate with Cocoa Nibs takes that same silky oat milk base and adds roasted cocoa nibs for crunch and a deeper, more complex cacao flavor. A modern take on the classic crunch bar, made with ingredients you can actually feel good about.
The Curation Standard
We apply the same filter to everything we carry at M.S Skincare. Is it beautiful? Is it made with integrity? Does it belong in the life of someone who is thoughtful about what they bring into their home and their body?
Mast Market chocolate passes on every count. The packaging is minimal and elegant. The ingredients are clean and traceable. The chocolate itself is genuinely exceptional. It is the kind of thing a discerning person keeps on their counter, not hidden in a drawer.
That is the M.S Skincare standard. Not perfection for its own sake, but intention in every choice.
Explore the full Mast Market collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mast Market chocolate vegan?
Yes. All Mast Market bars are certified organic, vegan, kosher, and gluten free.
Where is Mast Market chocolate made?
Mast Market was founded in Brooklyn, New York in 2010 and continues to operate from New York.
What cacao percentage is best for health benefits?
Generally, the higher the cacao percentage, the more flavanols and magnesium the chocolate contains and the less sugar it has. The 70% and 80% bars offer the most nutritional density while still being enjoyable to eat.
Is Mast Market chocolate good for gifting?
It is one of the most considered gifts you can give. The packaging is beautiful, the bars are exceptional, and the clean ingredient list makes it appropriate for almost any dietary preference.
What makes Mast Market different from other organic chocolate brands?
Mast Market uses minimal ingredients, sources organic cacao, and produces bars that are certified organic, vegan, kosher, and gluten free across the entire line. The flavor profiles are complex and intentional, closer to fine chocolate than to conventional confectionery.
Does dark chocolate have wellness benefits?
Organic dark chocolate made from high-quality cacao is rich in magnesium, flavanols, and antioxidants. It supports cardiovascular health, cognitive function, and mood. The benefits are most pronounced in bars with higher cacao percentages and minimal added sugar.
