Artisan Jinji Fraser of Pure Chocolate by Jinji - Biography

Germany-born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Jinji Fraser has called the Charm City “home” for almost her entire life. Food provided the backdrop for her young adult life, from home cooked meals with her mother and brother to exploring the bounty of the South, and it was just natural that she worked in local restaurants from the time she was in high school. She went on to attend Indiana University at Bloomington and completed a degree in Communications and Culture, followed by studies at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, where she combined her love of food with her driving passion to help people live healthier, happier lives.

In March of 2007 she came on board at Neopol Savory Smokery, back in Baltimore, working with the farmer’s markets and outdoor markets and developing healthful recipes.  Concurrently she directed an annual fashion event, Runway for Hope, to raise awareness for the Cancer Treatment Center. Next up, Fraser teamed up with Under Armour to create community initiatives aimed at educating inner city school children about nutrition and healthy living. In June 2012 she was ready to take the plunge and work as an independent Holistic Nutrition Counselor, providing guidance to individuals through private counseling, consulting in restaurants to usher in healthier menu options, and organizing and catering holistic events.

Just a few months later Fraser launched another independent venture, Pure Chocolates by Jinji.  She chose chocolates as a delicious means of introducing consumers to the powers and bliss of raw cacao products, foregoing the use of refined sugars and dairy products in favor of more nutritious, natural ingredients to create her feel-good treats. Partnering with her father, Guy, Fraser now produces a variety of raw confections incorporating various fruits and nuts, as well as tempered raw chocolate. Find her products in her retail storefront in Baltimore’s Belvedere Square Market, and in other markets and stores around Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C.