The Castronovo Arhuacos 80% Ancestral Cacao Dark Chocolate bar is both intense and elegant, full of rich chocolate flavor with notes of honey, white grape, orange blossom and a hint of nuts. It’s a truly scrumptious bar that I find hard to put down, and I’m usually one who is most satisfied with just a square or two. There’s absolutely no bitterness in this delectable 80% bar.

The bar comes to us with an important message from El Mamo Camilo, the spiritual leader of the Arhuaco, one of the four indigenous tribes who protect the stunning wilderness of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Northern Colombia. El Mamo Camilo urges us as lovers of fine cacao and fellow inhabitants of the planet, “You need to listen to the elements: the wind, water, and the ancestral cacao from our forest. They ask you to protect Mother Earth and to be mindful of how you change nature. Those who listen will become part of the Sierra Nevada.”

Denise Castronovo (chocolate maker extraordinaire) and a team of chocolate professionals were granted a rare visit with the Arhuaco people on a trip to Colombia in 2019. Typically El Mamo Camilo doesn’t meet with strangers so this was a most special honor indeed, indicating the deep trust he has in Denise and those who traveled with her to the place the Arhuacos consider the “heart of the world.”

When he finished his first bite of the Castronovo bar named after his tribe, El Mamo Camilo remained silent for a moment and then he remarked, “This chocolate captures the essence of the Arhuaco cacao.” Now that is high praise! If you’re curious to taste this tempting and truly special bar from the heart of the world, I strongly encourage you to give it a try. I am confident that you’ll love it.

To learn more about the Arhuaco people, descendants of the Tairona, an ancient cacao-growing and drinking civilization that dates back to the 1st century AD, watch this video.

• Silver Winner 2024 at the International Chocolate Awards

• Net Weight: 62 g. / 2.2 oz.
• Country of Origin: USA