Republica del Cacao

Frank Price, our TeamBuilding-Unlimited VP, is doing a short chocolate tasting tonight with a group of wine country event planners. This is part of a longer showcase of what our company, TeamBuilding Unlimited ,can and will do with clients. One of the 4 chocolates he chose was Republica del Cacao, a single original Dark Chocolate with 75% cacoa solids. This chocolate is wonderfully smooth with a slight floral aroma and a terrific lasting finish.

The Los Rios Province chocolate is a single original dark chocolate that uses the Arriba cacoa beans in Ecuador. They are both harvested and produced in Ecuador. The Plantations in Los Rios Province have exuberant rain forests, natural springs and rivers that help produce the legendary fine flavor with unmistakable aromas (you'll smell it once you get into the swing of things). What was really fun is that the bar, available at fine chocolate shops and online, contains tasting tips. You can have your own mini-chocolate tasting/appreciation. Listening to your senses: Appearance, Aroma, Taste, Touch and Listen. Buy a bar and read the notes 'adapted from The Chocolatier by Chloe Doutre-Roussel.' Or go on line and read a more detailed tasting list.

The origin of "Arriba" goes back to the 19th century when a Swiss Chocolatier traveling on the Guayas River was impressed by the aroma and asked workmen unloading cacoa sacks from a boat where the cacao aroma came from. They answered "de rio arriba" --from up the river.

Republica del Cacao was established four years ago as a project in search of rescuing one of the most valuable Ecuadorian agricultural treasures.: Cacao Arriba.

I have a hard job--tasting chocolate!