Life's a Beach | Expat Life in Playa del Carmen

Last week, Kristin Roehmer and the team from the Bric Hotel hosted an informative and entertaining seminar on a universally popular subject: Chocolate!!
Rohan Barnett, the General Manager of Ah Cacao Chocolate Cafe was our presenter, taking us through the history of cacao cultivation from its earliest traces dating back to 1000 BC through to today's modern chocolate production. Throughout the presentation, the group was able to view a well organized slide show of images showing early images of cacao found on ancient pottery and carvings, the ideal tropical jungle habitat for cacao cultivation, through to the laborious harvesting process, the tools used, then and now, to produce usable product from the beans and photos of the actual "farm" where Ah Cacao sources the main ingredient for their famous chocolate.

Rohan further explained the great benefits that can be derived from the cultivation of cacao. The trees must be grown in a lush jungle habitat to flourish and produce well. No clear cutting needs to be done nor any special preparation of the land with machinery or chemicals. In fact cacao in Mexico is a 100% organically grown crop. Ah Cacao uses 100% Mexican cacao, grown in Chiapas to make it's coveted chocolate products. The flooding in 2009 caused a great deal of damage to the crops that year which may force them to look further south to Costa Rica to fill the need for this years offerings but in general it is the mission of the folks at Ah Cacao to use only Mexican grown ingredients and Mexican manufacturing to make all of their fine chocolate products thus helping to stimulate the national economy. The plantations are essentially self sustaining, providing an excellent income source for the residents of the rural interior of the country.

The attendees had the opportunity to see and taste real raw cacao beans and a special new chocolate now offered at Ah Cacao made from 100% cacao and sweetened with only a bit of dried fruits. Only the very best quality cacao can be used to produce a chocolate like this. Inferior beans are far too bitter and require the addition of sugar and milk fats to make them palatable. Most of the commercial chocolate sold today is made with just a small amount of cacao and is really "chocolate flavored candy" rather than true chocolate. It is Rohan's hope that the group gathered to day has come away with a new appreciation for the production of fine chocolate and that more people will take the time (and spend a bit more money) to find and enjoy "real chocolate" made the right way with the best ingredients.

This great video shot and locally produced by Ah Cult will give you just a small a taste (no pun intended) of the plethora of information the attendees came away with from this fascinating and delicious afternoon! The Ah Cacao website also has some interesting chocolate facts and recipes so that you can make some of their favorite treats at home.

Thanks you to Rohan and Monica from Ah Cacao and thank you to Bric for organizing this fun and fascinating event.  As the seminar was standing room only, I have no doubt that it will become a regular event so more people can come and learn a little more about their favorite indulgence!

Looking for more fun events in Playa del Carmen? Check out the new Riviera Maya Events Calendar!