Guatemala
The last step to chocolate
But now to the long-awaited final step of the chocolate tour.
The creation of my own chocolate. Using a spoon, I pour the liquid chocolate into the praline molds and sprinkle chili flakes over the individual pralines. There is also room for a few peanuts and some cinnamon on one or two of the chocolates. The molds are then placed in the freezer. In contrast to the chocolate from the supermarket, no additives or stabilizers have been added to this chocolate, which makes constant cooling necessary. Especially here in the jungle, which is why Jenny grabs the finished molds straight away and takes them to the freezer.
And voilá! Arranged on a small plate, my first self-created chocolate shines and I have to say, the taste is unlike any chocolate I've ever eaten before. Now I understand how the term soul food came about, because the little chocolate praline caresses my soul. Making chocolate yourself is really something special. From the cocoa tree, its history and the growth of the fruit to the roasting, peeling and transformation of the beans into dark chocolate. This is how I got to know and, above all, appreciate the spirit of cocoa. You have probably also heard of the cocoa ceremonies practiced around the world. In these, drinking cocoa becomes a ceremonial journey to one's own dreams, wishes and feelings with the help of the heart-opening properties of cocoa.
During my stay in Utopia, I was lucky enough to meet Sarah from the company KAKAOCHI. KAKAOCHI sources its raw cocoa directly from farmers in Guatemala and Belize, which supports the people there and shows respect for them and their work. With the sale of their fine cocoa, the KAKAOCHI team has made it their mission to bring the tradition, origin and background of cocoa closer to the people. A wonderful mission, which is why I warmly recommend you visit their website. There you will find everything you need to know about the correct preparation of cocoa and what is important when holding cocoa ceremonies.
Click here, to go directly to the website.
Click here, to go directly to the website.
I leave this place with an open heart and a newly opened world that I want to explore further, thank you for immersing me in the world of cocoa here in Utopia, the refuge in the heart of the jungle of Semuc Champey. My 4 weeks here have been wonderful and full of new experiences that have changed me and my little world. I am very grateful for that.
And you? Inspired to travel to Semuc Champey and unwind in the jungle? Then I recommend the Hotel Utopia, because anyone who has been here once will never want to leave.
You can access the Utopia website by clicking here
Much Love
Deniz
And you? Inspired to travel to Semuc Champey and unwind in the jungle? Then I recommend the Hotel Utopia, because anyone who has been here once will never want to leave.
You can access the Utopia website by clicking here
Much Love
Deniz
