Visit the El Sendero del Cacao chocolate farm

Once you've seen the outdoor contraptions used for this phase, head over to the La Esmeralda Chocolate Factory to see where the beans are roasted and ground. Watch how each of these processes is carefully controlled to bring out the best flavor of the cocoa beans.

And don't skip seeing how the beans were ground in the old days! You'll get a huge, amazing waft of delight while grinding cocoa beans yourself in the traditional native way -  with a huge mortar and pestle.

Now for our favorite part - at the end of the chocolate factory tour, you'll learn how chocolate, as we know it, is made. You'll even get to make your own chocolate bar! Only one bar though, and trust us, you’ll want more.

Don’t worry though - when you're back in town, you can pick up more of this million-dollar crop to take home. The organic chocolate bar brand made with El Sendero cocoa is called KahKow and is available at Supermercados Nacional.

Once you've seen the outdoor contraptions used for this phase, head over to the La Esmeralda Chocolate Factory to see where the beans are roasted and ground. Watch how each of these processes is carefully controlled to bring out the best flavor of the cocoa beans.

And don't skip seeing how the beans were ground in the old days! You'll get a huge, amazing waft of delight while grinding cocoa beans yourself in the traditional native way -  with a huge mortar and pestle.

Now for our favorite part - at the end of the chocolate factory tour, you'll learn how chocolate, as we know it, is made. You'll even get to make your own chocolate bar! Only one bar though, and trust us, you’ll want more.

Don’t worry though - when you're back in town, you can pick up more of this million-dollar crop to take home. The organic chocolate bar brand made with El Sendero cocoa is called KahKow and is available at Supermercados Nacional.

El Sendero is located in San Francisco de Macoris, a one and a half hour drive southeast of Santiago de los Caballeros, and 4-5 hours from Santo Domingo. Transport to the farm is available. For details, call 809.547.2166 or email info@cacaotour.com.

El Sendero del Cacao tours start at $25 and are available daily, except on Mondays. Hours are from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Tickets are usually available a few days in advance and must be reserved online.

Written by G. Abdullah.

Published January 2022.