A couple who returned from San Francisco to the Staffordshire Moorlands to set up a CBD business have added a chocolate bar to their product range.
Gemma and Joe Wilde founded Unspun in Leek after moving back to the UK during the Covid pandemic to be closer to family, following seven years in America.
The couple discovered the benefits of cannabidiol (CBD) – a non-psychoactive compound derived from hemp plants, used in a variety of wellness products – while living in California and decided to develop their own range of CBD products using natural ingredients after noticing a gap in the UK market.
Their latest product is a dark chocolate bar made with 60 per cent cocoa, using single-origin Colombian beans and infused with 100mg of CBD from organically grown, EU-certified hemp plants. Each dairy-free bar contains 24 squares, providing just over 4mg of CBD per square.
Clinical studies have shown that CBD can lessen anxiety, help with sleep issues and reduce inflammation, helping with things like joint pain and muscle recovery.
Unspun, whose range also includes oil and gummies, recommends starting with two squares of the plant-based bar – which is free from tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive component found in cannabis – per day as a treat.
Joe, who is currently studying for an MSc in Entrepreneurship at the University of Staffordshire, said they had done extensive testing to produce the final recipe.
He said: “In the States chocolate and confectionery products are a more common way of using CBD than in the UK, so we decided to create a chocolate bar of our own.
“We tried a lot of different versions, with different ingredients and different amounts of CBD, to get to the final version which we really love. Because CBD has a slightly bitter taste, we had to find a cacao that didn’t exacerbate that.
“It was important to us that the chocolate bar was tasty, smooth and balanced. Interestingly, using soy instead of dairy gave a better texture and let the cacao shine through.
“We have been working on it for six months and are excited to get it out there – it’s a fun, indulgent and gift-able product which is great for those new to CBD or looking to change up their CBD routine.”
Joe, who grew up in Leek, and London-born Gemma are enjoying life back in Staffordshire with their two children, who were born in the United States.
The former Painsley Catholic College pupil said: “We are really enjoying living in Leek and being close to family and close to the Peak District.
“We have found a good network of people doing creative things and it is great to be part of that community.”
Unspun products – including the new chocolate, which costs £17 per bar and is suitable for vegans – are available online with free UK delivery from beunspun.co.uk. There is a 20 per cent discount for new customers, while returning customers can buy any three products to get 20 per cent off.
