Our second day in Quito contained our first introduction to genuine Ecuadorian chocolate. As we pulled out of the city’s old town, we drove north to visit the main site of Bios Chocolate. There, Davide, the grandson of the company’s founder, gave us an extensive history lesson on cacao. He explained the meaning of “fino de aroma” pods, taught us how to identify chocolate flavor profiles, and highlighted the advantages of using different cacao species when making chocolate. Meanwhile, we had the chance to taste many types of tasty chocolate, ranging from fruity undertones to caramel ones to combinations entirely unique to Bios itself (the blackberry macadamia bar was a fan favorite!)
Following the tasting, Davide gave us the special opportunity to tour his factory—but first, we were surprised with the opportunity to make our own Dubai chocolate strawberry cups! Munching on our treats, we observed the chocolate manufacturing process, learning about roasting, melting, and molding chocolate. We even got the chance to wrap our own chocolates, though I definitely struggled more with it than I’d like to admit… Finally, we were able to buy some of the chocolates we tasted. I would not consider it an exaggeration to say our group walked out with half of the factory’s stock!
The following day was our first in the beautiful town of Otavalo. This was the day of our trip I had been anticipating most, as it was our chance to visit the famous market at the Plaza de Ponchos! After a learning a bit about the importance of trade to Kichwa culture, we were let loose in the market, which was filled with every souvenir one could possibly imagine. By the end of the day, tired from hours of bartering in Spanish, I left with a trash bag full of one-of-a-kind goods. Our night concluded with a beautiful ceremony filled with traditional Andean music, colada morada, and dancing!
