So, as promised I am picking up where I left off, in Concordia Ecuador. Victoria's farm is approximately 4 hours south of the capital, Quito in a semi rural area. The holiday home where we stayed is roughly 20 minutes from the farm. Rustic, yet comfortable there are 4 bedrooms, a bathroom, a huge kitchen and common area with a pool table and hammocks for relaxation. No TV, internet or electronic devices of any kind. Just good conversation, music and food. On the first morning, a visit to the local market was the first order. Fish, shrimp, fruits and vegetables to feed us for the next few days.
Okay, now a little about growing chocolate, of this I knew little;
Cacao grows in the forest understory to a height of 6–12 metres (20–40 feet), usually remaining at the lower end of this range. Its oblong leathery leaves measure up to 30 cm (12 inches) in length, and are periodically shed and replaced by new leaves that are strikingly red when young. Its flowers are either foul-smelling or odourless; they can be present at all times but appear in abundance twice a year. These flowers grow in clusters directly from the trunk and limbs and are about 1 cm (0.4 inch) in height and breadth. They can be white, rosy, pink, yellow, or bright red, depending on the variety, and are pollinated by tiny flies called midges in many areas. Aaaah, yes, the insects are ravinous in this area...be prepared. I was warned, but still managed to be bitten by the little buggers. Here is a short video on the cultivation, harvesting and processing of cocoa. Later in this series I will do a live video chat with Victoria explaining in more detail her process and the magic that makes her chocolate special.
So after a lovely visit on the farm, the remainder of the day was spent shopping. Concordia is a hub for clothing and artisnal crafts such as woodworking, art and of course food related items. We finished up with a visit to the central park, then it was off to bed. I rose early and prepared breakfast for my hosts...I decided to let them try a suedo Canadian breakfast, everyone loved it except Victoria's little girl...lol. Next it was time to hit the road back to Quito, a 4 hour journey through amazing twists and turns.
Happy hump day folks! We would love you to come visit us here in Ecuador. Maybe book a week or two to Ecuador, to see what your missing.
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