Choco Guate Maya & Danta

juni 03, 2012

Choco Guate Maya & Danta

Cacao is a major food crop for Guatemalan people today; cacao was a major food crop for indigenous Maya people a thousand years ago also. Although there are some areas of Guatemala where cacao is common, it can be grown almost anywhere that you provide some shade and enough moisture.

The Pacific coast in Guatemala and other similar terrain were ideal for growing cocoa. Here all requirements for this finicky plant were met. As you can see from the map below, this terrain had even intensive production, even after the colonial times. However, during the most recent centuries, coffee took over and more or less replaced cocoa in these areas.

The ancestors of classic Mayas entered the Peten lowlands of northern Guatemala around 1000 BC. Before then they lived in the cool highlands of Guatemala and Chiapas, Mexico. The Pacific coast in Guatemala and other similar terrain were ideal for growing cacao. Here all requirements for this finicky plant were met. In all likelihood, cacao was growing wild in this area.

Cacao producing regions of Colonial Mesoamerica

My interests in Guatemalan chocolate came when I met Carlos Eigenberger for a workshop at my place last year. He brought some of his best couverture and some bars to work with. Recently I replaced a new order and look what came by post last week, see and enjoy or come over to my shop for a free tasting of this wonderfull chocolate!