During the 1700s and 1800s, European and colonial Latin American connoisseurs knew a lot about he origin of their chocolate. They identified most cacao by the name of the area in which it was grown. In Venezuela's central coastal highlands, in the state of Aragua, a number of river valleys have lent their names to some of the most coveted cacaos in the world, such as Chuao and Choroni. The Chuao Plantation was founded as an original land grant to an aristocratic Spanish family in 1592. Merchants in France and Spain always spoke of Chuao cacao as one of the finest available, and paid high premiums for the prestigious beans. Today Chuao is a cooperative of about 740 acres that is managed by the workers who farm it, and European manufacturers still compete to corner the production of the Chuao Plantation.
For a fascinating and complete review of the cultural and natural history of cacao, we refer you to "The New Taste of Chocolate, written by Maricel E. Presilla.
Chuao region photography courtesy of Ellen Vandenbroucke
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