In Ecuador, a veritable paradise owing to the wealth of its wild flora and fauna, recent archaeological studies have brought to light the remains of an ancient unknown civilization: the Mayo-Chinchipe. The peculiarity of this ancient culture dating back 5000 years is that the people used a cacao-based beverage, a good 3.000 years before the Mesoamerican peoples. The native cacao of Ecuador is called Nacional and it is considered to be one of the best genetic groups thanks to its intrinsic organoleptic properties. In more recent times, the period between 1870 and 1920 is considered to be the golden age of the great cacao “boom” in Ecuador. Naturally occurring conditions, such as increase in production, and socio-economic conditions, such as improvement in transport and increase in demand for cacao from abroad, led to record production levels of 1 million quintals a year. This age is also known by the nickname given to the cacao plantation owners who made a real fortune: “los gran cacao”. In the years following the golden age two serious diseases struck the cacao plants and this led to the decline of Ecuador as a producer. In the last few years it has, however, managed to revive the ancient splendours of the past. The areas of Gran Cacao were, in particular, those of Vinces in the Los Rios region, and of Balao, Naranjalnel and Guayas. In Guayas, which owes its name to the river of the same name (the largest river on the Pacific side of South America), there is “El Pechichal”, a Hacienda which was active in the days of Gran Cacao and is still operating today. Here the precious trees of Cacao Nacional have been preserved. The entire process of transforming the beans takes place inside the Hacienda in order to guarantee the quality and traceability of the product. 

Cacao: 72,5% min. Organic raw cacao nibs, organic coconut blossom sugar, organic raw cacao butter; Emulsifier: organic sunflower lecithin. May contain traces of nuts.

Particularly creamy chocolate with intense cream and black treacle notes, followed by aromatic coffee hint, toasted nuts, especially bitter almond, and plantain.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE PER 100 g

Organic

Country of origin: Ecuador
Region: Guayas
Genetics: Nacional
Fermentation: Wooden Boxes
Produced by: Single Farm Hacienda El Pechichal

50 g

“El Pechichal” was originally owned by a family of the city of Cuenca, prior to being sold to the present-day owners. It is for this reason that we have chosen the image of the typical “Chola Cuencana”, represented by the lovely woman you can see in the photo, intent on selling the traditional baskets she has made. Ecuadorians have always had a great love for their customs and it is with this same love that they protect their precious cacao. 
Photo Piedad Margarita Rivera ©

Chocolate El Pechichal