CocoaTalk

Everyone in the chocolate world can identify Ecuador as an elite origin for cacao. However, not everyone knows how much it can vary within such a small country.  Ecuador is just the size of Color … read more

Infusing Flavor: Using Cacao Husks in Beers Cacao nibs get all the credit when it comes to brewing chocolate beers, but they aren’t the only tool in the toolbox for getting chocolaty flavors fro … read more

When asked about cacao quality, most people immediately think of origin. Is it from Ecuador, Peru, Ghana, Madagascar? But, contrary to popular belief, origin is not enough to determine quality. In fac … read more

Some of the most important decisions in cacao production happen long before a tree ever even produces a pod. They happen at the nursery stage, when a baby cacao plant exists as a seed, a sprout, and w … read more

It’s time to make plans for the new year as the holiday season has come to an end, the bustling schedules are freeing up, and it’s time to make new plans. This means going through the new … read more

In Collaboration with David Nilsen [Freelance beer journalist, speaker, podcast host, & Advanced Cicerone©. Author of Pairing Beer & Chocolate book]      davidnilsenbe … read more

It is a universal truth that hot cocoa is the most delightful drink ever. We all have different choices, our families have their own ways, but ultimately, it still unites people and provides heat for … read more

A Brief Overview of Specialty Cacao Ingredients for Creative, Standout Beers In Collaboration with David Nilsen [Freelance beer journalist, speaker, podcast host, & Advanced Cicerone©. Autho … read more

Nibs are the cacao beans that have been shelled and crushed. Each and every chocolate product which you have ever tasted was a nib at first.   Cacao nibs are increasingly being recognized a … read more

For centuries, humans have associated cacao with romance, endurance, and sensuality. Historians assert that the Aztec Emperor Moctezuma consumed spiced cacao as an aphrodisiac before seeing his lovers … read more