Vinte Vinte refers to the cocoa 'belt' between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, 20° north and 20° south of the equator. The origin of the products and the terroirs are essential for these chocolate creators, who have transposed their long experience of wine to the field of cocoa.
Chocolate production is located at the heart of the World Of Wine complex in Porto, which is due to open in 2020. The Vinte Vinte project is the brainchild of Pedro Martins Araújo, a master chocolatier with a passion for the complex aromas and history of cocoa. During our meeting with him, we were able to discuss the different terroirs and genetic varieties of cocoa. Pedro is a true expert, constantly on the lookout for the best beans for his award-winning grands crus.
If you go to Porto, be sure to visit the fabulous Chocolate Museum in the cultural district (Vila Nova de Gaia). As well as learning about the history of cocoa, you can also admire the production of their chocolates and share their passion in this veritable temple of cocoa.
The Chocolate Story Museum: R. de Guilherme Braga 21, 4400-174 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.
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Canyon Marañón
In 1916, an epidemic devastated the entire Puro Nacional population in Ecuador. For several years, this variety was considered lost, until Dan Pearson and Brian Horsely discovered cocoa trees of this variety on small isolated farms in Marañón. This isolated horseshoe-shaped gorge creates a unique microclimate, with trees growing at altitudes of between 1,000 and 1,250 meters.
The Maranon River is the longest river in Peru. It rises north of Lima and flows north for 1,500 km before forming the source of the Amazon River. The Marañón canyon, where Pure Nacional cocoa is grown, is one of the many canyons along its course. You enter the canyon aboard a suspended cable barge. The lack of roads and bridges is a real challenge, especially during the heavy rains of the harvest season. Scientists believe that the Pure Nacional has grown in this canyon, with its own microclimate, for centuries and that it was placed there either by ancient tribes or by animals.
