You’ve heard about and perhaps experienced Swiss chocolate. Many people say it’s their favorite chocolate in the world, and it’s largely because chocolate crafted in Switzerland has a voluptuous, silky mouthfeel that creates pure pleasure as it melts on your taste buds. 

This milk chocolate has a beautiful, rich caramel flavor. It’s irresistible, like dulce de leche. Imagine a sweet little cherub playing a harp in the heavens. That’s what comes to mind when I allow a piece of this bar to melt on my palate.

The Esmeraldas 42% Milk Chocolate Bar is crafted from a superior flavor cacao bean called “Arriba Nacional” which grows in Ecuador in the Esmeraldas Cloud Forest known as Mache Chindul.

This threatened rainforest is situated on the edge of the Cotacachi Cayapas Nature Reserve. Many exotic plants and wildlife species live there, including the Imbabura Tree Frog and the Mache Glass Frog. These frogs 🐸 hop about on the rare and endangered Arriba cacao trees.

Industrial cacao growers who plant CCN51 ( also known as “The Darth Vader of Chocolate” both because the flavor is poor and it destroys ecosystems as well as livelihoods of small farmers) have no interest in preserving the heirloom trees or their adorable little croaking tenants. The Original Beans Team is on a mission to preserve both the Arriba Nacional trees and their frogs.

The lush Esmeraldas Province landscape depicts the union of ocean and rainforest, and the addition of a tiny bit of sea salt to the bar is a nod to this emerald-hued region as well as the three distinct ethnic groups who reside there (Mestizo, Afro-Ecuadorians and Chachi). Their traditional hot cacao is always prepared with a hint of fleur de sel. Don’t worry if you’re not a fan of salt and chocolate. Personally, I find the salt imperceptible here.