Forum Activity for @Louis Varela

Ki Xocolatl voted best tasting chocolate!

Posted in: Tasting Notes

From the world famous THE CHOCOLATE ROOM BROOKLYN ...

" Single-Origin Tasting event [was] such a great success! In addition to sampling outstanding single-origin chocolates, we had a fun, and friendly blind taste test of 5 different single-origin chocolates baked into our Flourless Chocolate Cake . The judging was difficult because all competitors have such incredible chocolates, but, in the end, kiXocolatl from Mexicos Yucatan peninsula was voted most delicious."

http://thechocolateroombrooklyn.com/WP-blog/chocboard.php/

updated by @Louis Varela: 04/09/15 11:08:44PM

Mezcal and Chocolate?

Posted in: News & New Product Press

Mezcal & Chocolate: The Palate of Indulgence

Pull up a chair, and sit yourself down. Im going to tell you something you already know, but you need to be reminded.

If mezcals (and tequilas) reflect the flavor, scent and smokiness of the earth in which they are crafted, then there must be complementary tastes that can be paired with each mezcal.When pairing mezcal, a perfect complement ischocolate.

In this new book, which includes an essay by Clay Gordon, the appeal of mezcal and chocolate is discussed ...

No chocolatier can be without this book, which opens up new possibilities for chocolate ...

Learn more by clicking here: http://fave.co/10DGAiR

updated by @Louis Varela: 04/10/15 03:12:50PM

Our website is coming together ...

Posted in: Allow Me to Introduce Myself

Our new website is coming together ... and we welcome comments and suggestions ... www.mexican-chocolate.com . Thanks!

updated by @Louis Varela: 04/10/15 02:14:02PM

Growing trees from Cocoa Seeds.

Posted in: Tech Help, Tips, Tricks, & Techniques

If you want to grow a cacao tree in a non-tropical environment, the simplest way to go about it is to keep the potted plant in the bathroom, preferably at the far end of the bathtub, so it absorbs humidity and dampness from a hot shower. The bathroom is also the ideal place (or a steam room, really) if you want to grow vanilla orchids as well. We have more than 20,000 cacao trees growing in the Yucatan, by the way. Louis

Weird Flavors and Inclusions in Chocolate

Posted in: Tasting Notes

I'm not sure if this is weird or not, but after almost 2 years of experimentation, Ki Xocolatl will introduce two new varieties at the Fancy Food Show in New York this summer:

Dark chocolate with Key lime citrus

Milk chocolate with crushed tortilla chips

The first is like eating an Italian espresso. The second has that hint of corn and saltiness that marries well with milk chocolate.

Weird Flavors and Inclusions in Chocolate

Posted in: Tasting Notes

The two most bizarre ingredients: tobacco and Habanero chile. Chocolate with tobacco essence smelled like horse manure. Chocolate with habanero oil was so hot it made my nose run. Both were custom-ordered.

Bean to bar chocolate makers

Posted in: Tasting Notes

You forgot to include Ki Xocolatl.

Ki Xocolatl is a bean-to-bar manufacturer in Merida, Mexico. They also grow their own cacao in a vast plantation in the heart of the Yucatan peninsula. And they have an office in New York to distribute their chocolates.

This is their website: www.ki-xocolatl.com . This is the site for the Plantacion Tikul: www.ecomuseodelcacao.com . You can get their chocolates from Amazon.com. And if you are interested in wholesale, you can contact them by email at info@casa-catherwood.com or mexicanchocolatecompany@gmail.com .

Louis