El Cacaotal

Chocolate shop · Lima ·

El Cacaotal

Chocolate shop · Lima ·

Peruvian bean-to-bar chocolate & Nordic-style coffee roaster

Information

Jr. Colina 111, Barranco 15063, Peru Get directions

@atlasobscura

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El Cacaotal – Lima, Peru - Gastro Obscura

"El Cacaotal, or in English “cacao field,” puts the cultural heritage of Peru’s sweet stuff front-and-center through an ethical shopping experience. Located in the capital’s trendy Barranco neighborhood, cacao beans are showcased here for a local audience on home turf. The shop stocks tasty treats from bars to truffles, hot chocolate, and nibs, as well as some unexpected cacao-tinged items like meat marinades, marmalades, and even soaps and eye creams. Peruvians are statistically low consumers of their own cacao crop, and El Cacao is aiming to change this. Home-grown cacao varieties, such as the Nacional and Criollo, are prized by international chocolate–makers for their distinct flavors and aromas, as well as an enhanced complexity resulting from traditional, sustainable farming methods. Yet, beans are rarely transformed into high-quality chocolate in Peru before it’s exported. The shop carries exclusively Peruvian products, adhering to the so-called “bean-to-bar” artisan philosophy—you won’t find the industrial additives that go into the most widely available chocolate brands here. The shop works directly with more than 40 small-scale farmers and producers, many of which are backed by social initiatives providing education and training. El Cacaotal’s owners, including anthropologist and certified taster Amanda Jo “AJ” Wildey, offer regular workshops and tastings for those craving more information about local chocolate production, as well as some history of cacao farming in Peru. Take-home goodies are also sustainably packaged in biodegradable bags and recycled paper. Know Before You Go El Cacaotal partners with some local food tours. Beat the crowds by calling ahead or join one to get in on the action." - lutz, barbarawoolsey

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/el-cacaotal

El Cacaotal

@travelleisure

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All You Need to Know About Barranco, Lima's Coolest Neighborhood

"A Peruvian chocolate house specializing in bean-to-bar, fair-trade chocolate with chocolate-tasting classes." - Amanda Ogle Amanda Ogle Amanda Ogle is a writer and editor who specializes in travel, food and drink, sustainability, and general lifestyle topics. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, National Geographic, Condé Nast T

https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/guide-to-barranco-lima-peru

El Cacaotal

Jev G.

Google

Great place to learn about chocolate. It is owned by an American with a PhD on chocolate. They have huge real cocoa on display, which is cool to see and hold. The chocolate selection was good, but they were all commercially packaged chocolate. Tips: There are more chocolate stores in town, such as inside the Dedalo, Ukaw official store, and inside Flora & Fauna supermarket in Barranco.

Ville K.

Google

I visited here with two colleagues who knew the co-founder, Amanda. She gave us an excellent ex tempore chocolate tasting session and taught me about the differences between the cultivars and the regions of Peru. We also discussed about the chocolate research. I got a few bars to take back home and I can't wait to let my friends taste them!

Andrew Fletcher C.

Google

Upstairs from Ciclos coffee dive into an educational taste experience of Peru’s cacao prowess (13 varieties across 3 distinct regions). These are some special artisan chocolates and the owners have even gone so far as to make an exquisite chocolate liquor that combines the earthiness and richness of coffee with the sweet sourness of mucilage (the white, fleshy covering that found in the outside of a cacao bean). Next level artisanship.

Kamil N.

Google

I must say, there are few coffee shops treating their craft as professionally as El Cacaotal, Jennifer, responsible for the pour overs, came over and offered proactively a second cup to me as the original cup she prepared wasn't up to her standards (it was to mine). That what made the coffee stand out here. Not only the quality of the beans, but also how those guys treat their craft !

James H.

Google

Loved this place - AJ and Jennifer were so helpful, the chocolate tasting was really unique and a great experience, and love the way they had the full stories behind each bar of small-batch Peruvian chocolate. Coffee was exceptional as well, and such a nice cafe downstairs.

J K

Google

Beautiful collection of chocolates. They divide the chocolates into sections, based on where the beans are sourced from - northern, central or southern Peru. The explanations from the team were helpful, and you can look at the different taste profiles of the different cacao beans in the display. Just in case you couldn’t find the shop like me initially, it sits right above a fantastic coffee roaster’s/cafe Ciclos.

Quinn C.

Google

Great spot with fantastic service. They source the top chocolate and coffee from Peru and ensure it's ethically sourced as well. The owner is an expert in the field and has been working with Peruvian chocolate for a long time. The employees were extremely kind and helpful and made some delicious hot chocolates. There are multiple varieties you can choose from and a great cafe space to sit and relax.

Reagan B

Google

The coffee was good but I was disappointed that the chocolate here is priced higher than other places to buy it. Staff in the chocolate section weren’t very helpful so it was a bit disappointing. The coffee is really amazing though so I still recommend it!