Santo Domingo: il sentiero del cacao

This path was born in 2005 with the aim of promoting the culture and knowledge of cocoa. The realization of the sendero del cacao, affiliated with Chococlub, Italian Association of Chocolate Lovers, was made possible thanks to the RIZEK Group: a network of companies linked to production, marketing, investments, and services in which cocoa is the common denominator.

The exported product, organic cocoa, is a leader in the local and international market, also reaching the US, European, and Asian markets. The company is currently the largest Dominican producer of quality cocoa, thanks to the integration of an efficient group of professionals and a philosophy that supports the development of the cocoa sector in all its aspects, blending the spirit of tradition with innovative ideas.

The heart of the path develops within the country, venturing through breathtaking landscapes and lush vegetation, to reach San Francisco de Macorís, where the cocoa plantations of Hacienda La Esmeralda García Jiménez are located, a company that extends over about 39 hectares: here the first thing that strikes is the flowers of the cocoa plants, with their delicate colors, as far as the eye can see.

A guide, together with specialized technicians, will illustrate how the harvesting of the fruits, the cutting of the pods, the extraction of the beans, the fermentation, drying, and packaging of cocoa take place: all activities that fully involve the senses, especially touch, smell, and taste, since from the moment of harvest to the moment it is packaged, the cocoa fruit offers itself in all its generosity releasing aromas and sweetness difficult to describe in words but that give unforgettable memories.

The ecotourism experience culminates with the planting of a cocoa plant for which a certificate will also be received, promoting the protection of the planet and the spread of greenery. The excursion also includes the opportunity to participate in a workshop to produce chocolate in two different ways: the modern one, directly in the company’s chocolate factory, and the ancient one, according to the recipe of the indigenous people. All sweet lovers can then taste delicious hot chocolates coming from what the natives called “the food of the gods,” cocoa.

An unforgettable moment for the sensations it gives, discovering one of the characteristic products of the Dominican Republic, which together with rum, cane sugar, and cigars is one of the sweet deposits of this country, suitable for authentic souvenirs capable of bringing back, in all their persistence, some of the typical scents of this sun-kissed land.

Chococlub – Italian Association of Chocolate Lovers was founded in 1998 with the aim of gathering all chocolate enthusiasts, the “food of the gods”: from simple sweet lovers to professionals in the sector (pastry chefs, tasters, and confectionery entrepreneurs). The association’s purpose is to promote, internationally, the knowledge of cocoa and its enhancement, through trips to production sites, guided tastings, and themed events.