Behind the Bar: My El Salvador Chocolate Adventure & the Story of Our Award-Winning Cacao
I just got back from the most incredible trip to El Salvador, and I wanted to share what I learned with you. As you know, I use amazing cacao from Hacienda La Carrera in El Salvador in my 70% multi award-winning chocolate bar - so having the opportunity to see where it comes from, meet the farmers, and understand their craft on a deeper level was a truly life changing experience for me.
Cacao farming in El Salvador is experiencing a bit of a renaissance. In the first half of 2024 alone, cacao exports hit a 30-year high - up over 20% from last year! This is huge, not just for the farmers but for the preservation of a tradition that had nearly disappeared.
A big part of this success is thanks to Belco Cacao, the traders who organised this trip and who are working closely with farmers to help them create world-class cacao while growing sustainable businesses. Their commitment goes beyond trade - they’re providing real support to farmers so they can improve quality, increase yields, and build a future for Salvadoran cacao.
During my visit, I had the privilege of exploring several remarkable farms:
Finca Chiquihuat – Run by Dr. Herbert Betancourt, he started to grow cacao trees just 10 years ago, and now the farm is jam packed with beautiful trees of many kinds. Initially, he began planting Trinitarios brought in from the Trinidad research institute, but since realised that he wanted to focus on regenerating the ancestral varieties that originally existed in El Salvador. On the farm are other rare timbers, that act as the perfect shade for cacao trees, which prefer to be protected from direct sun.
Hacienda Comalapa – A 300-hectare farm balancing sugar cane and cacao cultivation. They are beginning to increase the amount of cacao, as the sugar cane is damaging the soil quality over time. They are bringing cacao back to this area for the first time in 200 yrs. This farm is certified Organic, which is unusual. Although all of the cacao farms are using organic methods, few can pay for the certification, it's not worth their time or the expense when their harvests are small.
Hacienda San Jose Real de la Carrera – The largest cacao plantation in El Salvador, and where I source my El Salvador beans from. I've been working with these beans for 3.5 years, and it's still my favourite chocolate. I've long dreamt of coming here and sharing my chocolate with the growers, closing the circle and bringing it back to where it started. This was an emotional visit for me!
And here’s something truly amazing: Belco Cacao has started an initiative to bring Salvadoran cacao to Europe by sailboat! That means lower carbon emissions and an even more sustainable future for fine chocolate. It’s an inspiring reminder that every step of this process, from farm to bar, matters.
Seeing all of this firsthand makes me even prouder to use Salvadoran cacao in my chocolate. When you taste my bar, you’re tasting the work of generations of farmers who are fighting to keep this tradition alive.
Want to experience the flavours of El Salvador for yourself? Try my award-winning 70% bar, made with the very cacao I saw being grown, harvested, and expertly fermented. Click here to order and taste the story in every bite!
Thank you for being part of this journey - your love for craft chocolate helps support these farmers and their incredible cacao.
Stay sweet,
Nicola
Bittersweet Symphony: How Sound Frequencies Affect Your Chocolate Tasting Experience
When we think of tasting chocolate, our minds typically focus on the flavours, textures, and aromas. But did you know that the sound environment can also impact how we experience chocolate? Yes, the frequencies of sound that fill the room (or your ears) as you take a bite of that piece of chocolate can subtly—but profoundly—alter how you perceive its taste and texture. This phenomenon, known as "sonic seasoning," is not by any means a new thing, but one which I’ve recently begun to add to my own tastings. It integrates our auditory senses with our palate to shape a multi-sensory eating experience, and is right up my street!
In this post, I’ll explore how listening to different sound frequencies can affect the way chocolate tastes. Research shows how high and low-pitched frequencies enhance or diminish various elements like sweetness, bitterness, and overall enjoyment. And of course, I have undertaken some of my own research…. well it would be rude not to!
The Science Behind Sonic Seasoning
Sonic seasoning is part of a broader field called cross-modal perception, where one sense influences the perception of another. In the case of chocolate, your brain processes more than just what’s happening on your taste buds—it also factors in what you're hearing. Recent studies have shown that different sound frequencies can influence how we perceive taste, especially the sweetness and bitterness of food.
Chocolate, with its complex flavour notes, bitterness and varying degrees of sweetness, is a perfect candidate for experimenting with sonic seasoning. Whether you’re eating a piece of dark, milk, or white chocolate, the sounds around you could change how you experience the subtleties of each bite.
High-Frequency Sounds: Enhancing Sweetness
Research has shown that high-pitched sounds, typically ranging between 4,000 and 10,000 Hz, can enhance the perception of sweetness in food. When we listen to higher-frequency tones while tasting chocolate, it can amplify the sweeter notes within the chocolate, making it seem less bitter and more indulgent.
Low-Frequency Sounds: Highlighting Bitterness and Complexity
On the opposite end of the spectrum, low-pitched sounds ranging between 50 and 500 Hz tend to bring out the bitter and savoury elements in food. When it comes to chocolate, these lower tones can emphasise the darker, more intense cacao notes. For those who enjoy the complexity of dark chocolate, low-frequency sounds can deepen that sensory experience.
Low-frequency sounds can also enhance the overall richness of chocolate, making it feel more luxurious and indulgent, even if it’s slightly bitter.
Balancing Enjoyment: The Perfect Sonic Pairing
What if you prefer a balance between sweetness and bitterness in your chocolate? The beauty of sonic seasoning is that you can tailor the sound environment to create your desired sensory experience. Listening to ambient music or sounds with a mix of high and low tones could create a more nuanced tasting experience. For example, instrumental music with layers of different instruments—from violins to cellos—could help you savour both the bitter and sweet aspects of the chocolate.
The Overall Experience: Does Sound Boost Enjoyment?
Beyond taste, sound can also elevate the general enjoyment of chocolate. Certain frequencies can affect mood and create an immersive environment that enhances the entire chocolate tasting experience. Upbeat, high-pitched music can evoke feelings of joy and lightness, making the experience of eating chocolate feel more like a playful indulgence. Meanwhile, lower, more resonant sounds can evoke feelings of comfort, satisfaction, and relaxation, making the chocolate feel richer and more luxurious.
Ideas for your own sonic sensory tasting:
- Try tasting chocolate in different environments with varied soundscapes.
- For a bright, celebratory experience, opt for higher-pitched, uplifting sounds.
- For a rich, grounding experience, listen to lower-pitched, deeper sounds.
- Mix and match for a balanced, multi-dimensional taste.
Conclusion: Experimenting with Sonic Chocolate Tasting
Chocolate tasting is a deeply sensory experience, and introducing sound into the mix adds an exciting new dimension. Whatever type of chocolate you enjoy, the frequencies you listen to while tasting can subtly enhance the flavours you perceive.
Here are the tasting notes I took when tasting my El Salvador 70% bar while listening to low and high frequency sounds. The results were astonishing!
The low frequency tasting felt akin to my post-covid loss of taste which left me with only the lower, more bitter notes. And the high frequency is like a party on the tongue.
We will be delving deeper into this in October’s subscription box, so join the waitlist if you’d like to receive the box!
Introducing the Exe Chocolate Subscription Box: A Delicious Journey Awaits!
Hello Chocolate Lovers!
I’m excited to announce something very special here at Exe Chocolate: the launch of our very own subscription box! 🎉
Imagine receiving a curated selection of our handcrafted bean-to-bar chocolates, seasonal treats, and delightful surprises delivered right to your door. Our subscription box is designed to take you on a delicious journey, one that celebrates the art of chocolate making and the stories behind every bar.
What Makes Our Subscription Box Unique?
At Exe Chocolate, we’re passionate about creating exquisite, ethically sourced chocolates that not only taste divine but also make a positive impact. Here’s why our subscription box is unlike any other:
1. Handcrafted Excellence: Every bar of chocolate you receive is lovingly crafted in our tiny chocolate factory near Exeter. We pride ourselves on our meticulous bean-to-bar process, ensuring each bite is a taste of perfection.
2. Ethical and Sustainable: We source our cocoa beans from specialty traders, who work directly with farmers to ensure fair pay and sustainable practices.
3. Curated Themes: Each box comes with a unique theme, such as 'Origin Exploration', 'By the Sea', or 'Winter Wonders'. These themes guide the selection of chocolates and additional goodies, making every unboxing a new adventure.
4. Guest Makers and Surprises: Sometimes, we’ll feature chocolates from guest makers or include seasonal products and non-chocolate surprises that complement our treats. This adds an extra layer of excitement and discovery to your chocolate experience.
5. Eco-Friendly Packaging: Our commitment to sustainability extends to our packaging. We use recyclable materials to ensure that our boxes are as kind to the planet as they are to your taste buds. You won’t find any plastic packaging in our boxes, ever.
Why Join Our Subscription Box Waitlist?
Exclusive First Access: By joining our waitlist, you’ll be among the first to know when our subscription box launches and have the first chance to secure your box before they sell out.
Limited Editions: Our subscription boxes are crafted in limited quantities to ensure the highest quality. Being on the waitlist guarantees you don’t miss out on these exclusive collections.
Special Offers: Waitlist members will receive special offers and discounts that won’t be available to the general public. It’s our way of saying thank you for your early support!
How to Join the Waitlist
Joining our waitlist is simple and quick. Just click here to sign up, and you’ll be one step closer to experiencing the best of Exe Chocolate delivered straight to your doorstep. Slots will be offered on a first-come, first served basis on August 5th, and the first boxes ship on August 19th (weather dependent), so don’t wait—spaces are limited, and we want you to be part of this exciting journey from the very beginning.
What Our Customers Are Saying
"I cannot rate Exe Chocolate highly enough. Nicola was extremely helpful and the tea and chocolate were delicious. Thanks for the great service." – Jennifer B
"Absolutely my favourite dark chocolate at the moment, wonderful taste, texture and an excellent snap." – Kate W
Thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm for Exe Chocolate. We can’t wait to share our passion for fine chocolate with you through our subscription box. Join the waitlist today and get ready for a chocolate experience like no other!
Thank you 🙏
Nicola
Founder, Exe Chocolate
P.S. Follow us on Instagram @exe_chocolate for updates, sneak peeks, and more delicious content.
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