Thoughtful snacking to renew life -
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INTRODUCING GOOD KING SNACKING CACAO

 
 
“Every time I think I have settled on my favorite flavor, I taste another one and think, ‘hmmm... maybe this one is actually my favorite.’”
 
 

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“Good King has changed the landscape of chocolate in the most wonderful way. The texture is of a nut that has a hint of sweetness coupled with spices.”
 
 

FAVORITE CACAO SNACKS

 
 
“It’s a great food to put out at parties pairing with wine, cheese, or beer - it’s a relatively new food concept to most people making it fun for guests to try and a good conversation starter”
 

@GOODKINGCACAO ON INSTAGRAM

#cacaocollection continued... ⠀ After transferring the #cacao to the transport bag, the next step is weighing. @coagricsal brings a digital scale to collections so each cacao farmer knows exactly how much he or she should be paid. ⠀ And, of course, many also step on to find out how much they themselves weigh. 🤣 ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #directtrade #cocoacollection #fairtrade #cacaobeans #singleorigin #honduras #hondurascacao #snackingcacao
#cacao collection continued ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Often farmers bring their harvest in containers, buckets or even bags they want back. So, step one is transferring the product into a bag we can take with us (some just opt for replacement bags which @coagricsal purchases for them). This process is often by small bowl when available (or by hand, swipe right). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #cacaobeans #cacaofarming #cacaoharvest #cacaocosecha #directtrade #singleorigin #organic #snackingcacao #wetbeans #cocoabeans
#cacao collection. We spend a lot of time talking about our amazing women partners. But, they would have NOTHING to work with if it weren’t for the great men (AND a few women) who grow and collect the #cacaobeans. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We’re out collecting #cocoa with the team. Being told about this process is one thing, but #seeingisbelieving. No one works harder... ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We left at 7am and checked into a remote hotel at 2am. We will share our progression over a few days because it is that much work!! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ @coagricsal coagricsal collection process begins with farmers preparing #wetbeans (#cacaoenbaba) in either plastic bucket or bag on the day Coagricsal tells them the collection truck will arrive. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #cacaocollection #honduras #cacaofarming
We don’t live on #cocoa alone while in #Honduras. So, please meet a few of our favorite #seasonal #fruitsandveggies. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 1. #avocados the size of a softball and tiny #redpears that are so juicy, sweet and even floral in flavor. 2. #rambutan - sold at seemingly EVERY roadside stand for a very short time. White, fleshy fruit that is mostly sweet and a little tangy. I can’t help but wonder if Muppets’ Animal was modeled after this fruit. 😉 And isn’t Victoria (one of the children I stay with) the sweetest? 🤗 Maybe it’s because she LOVES her mom’s #snackingcacao. ❤️😋 3. #incortido - pickled veggies that come in a variety of flavors. This one has #beets, #onions, #cauliflower, #jalapeno and a variety of spices including #cumin and #cilantro. It is supposed to be a #garnish to #empanadas or other rich foods, but I love it so much, that I’ve decided to eat it like #salad - and then drink the juice. 🤣 #dontjudgeme ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Which would be first on your list to try?
Happy 30th birthday 🎂🥳🎉 to the incredible @julissaalejandra89. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Primero en español para Julissa- No hay suficientes palabras en inglés o español para describir ti - mi hermosa amiga. Fuerte, valiente, infinitamente capaz, inteligente, trabajador, tan paciente, divertida, generosa, amable, creativa, atenta... Amante hija, hermana, madre y amiga. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Estoy muy emocionada de celebrar este hito contigo. Estoy agradecida por ti y por la forma en que tú y tu familia me han dado la bienvenida. ❤️🤗 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ . . . ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ There aren’t enough words in English or Spanish to describe you - my beautiful friend. Strong, brave, infinitely capable, intelligent, hardworking, so so patient, fun, generous, kind, creative, thoughtful... Loving daughter, sister, mother and friend. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I’m so excited to celebrate this milestone with you. I’m grateful for you and the way you and your family have welcomed me as your own. ❤️🤗 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ . . . ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ As a note - not only is Julissa one of our key leaders in Honduras, she is also my (Kim’s) host. Every time I come (this time, for nearly 6 weeks), she gives-up her own room and shares her time, space, family and friends with me. Our work in Honduras would be nearly impossible without her. . ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ . ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #chocolatera #chocolatemaker #xolchocolate #snackingcacao #cacao #cacaocaramelizado #strongwoman
The #kindnessofstrangers - my return trip from #Guatemala to #Honduras wasn’t quite as buttoned-up as I thought. 😳 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ When I arrived to the border, I was looking for the bus to La Entrada, but I didn’t know what it looked like. I asked this bus driver which way they were going thinking it was a public bus. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Realizing I was traveling alone, another bus wasn’t guaranteed for me and my Spanish is lacking, they invited me aboard. 🙏🏻😉 #ignoranceisbliss ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Turns out, this bus was NOT public. It was Iglesia Católica de Santa Barbara, Honduras returning from an excursion to #cristonegrodeesquipulas. And a perfect stranger gave up her seat (2nd photo) despite my protests to make me more comfortable. The group was so much fun - full of joy, hospitable and obviously generous. A wonderful example of the life and #loveofchrist. #grateful ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #loveinaction #amordecristo #amorenaccion #graciasadios
Coban, #guatemala day two @cacao_verapaz. Another great day! . ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Part 1 - in the office 1. Roy presenting 70% #darkchocolate made in house (for testing) 2. The entrance 3. #chocolateliquor tasting (pure, roasted #cocoabeans ground into smooth paste). My first time doing a #comparativetasting - our beans never make it that far! I learned so much and need A LOT MORE practice. 4. Viktor the warehouse manager. He should’ve been flexing 💪🏼 because he can lift up to 150lbs #cacao at once. 🥵 5. Viktor’s stacked masterpiece. Red is #organic and brown is conventional. Part 2 - coffee farm tour at Chicoj Cooperativa 6. Rosa teaching me differences in #coffee varieties. 7. This beautiful red plant isn’t ornamental. It is the divider marker between #familyfarms. 8. & 9. Rogelio, the barrista, preparing me an incredible cup of their natural processed specialty coffee. 🌟👍🏻 10. Mystery solved - having tried and failed many times to grow “organic” #tomatoes over the years, I wondered “how do they do this?!?” Now I know - the hills of Guatemala are bathed in this white mesh to protect #organictomatoes from pests!
12 hour #roadtrip to @cacao_verapaz in Coban, #guatemala. . ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 1st time in Guatemala. Me encanta. ❤️ More pictures than IG will let me share, but here are the highlights of Day 1. 1. Women of ADIOESMAC Association in Santa Maria, Cahabon preparing impromptu lunch of Tayuyos (empañada stuffed with spiced black beans) 2. Representatives of 8 person women’s group presenting their first chocolates 😋 3. #Metate (used for grinding #Cacao, corn and our lunch today!) 4. Manual #grinder - partner to the metate before this group was gifted some benchtop grinding equipment (along with refrigerator, oven / stove combo and melanger) a few weeks ago. The gifts double the speed of their work. 5. #fermentation boxes - with capacity of 500 lbs! 🥵 hard work! 6. Covered #drying beds 7. The patio on a hot, sunny day 8. #salud - traditional hot chocolate 😘 served by our incredible host[esse]s 9. #footbridge for delivering Cacao to fermentation facility (different group). 😲 10. #comidastipicas Kaq’ik - turkey leg in a flavorful soup. 😍 served with tomalitos and rice. Also seen, but not pictured: stunning sunrise, new animals (which I now forget the name), majestic mountains, flowers, LOTS of “road massages” (very bumpy roads) and more food too! Thank you, Roy, for such an incredible day! 🤗
It’s international #coffee day! I’m thankful that every day feels like ☕️ day @coagricsal (our #cacao partner who started 20+ years ago with coffee). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Coagricsal sold enough coffee in 2018 to brew about 1.2 Billion cups! 😳 That means they can share with a LOT of nations. 🤗🥳 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #international #fairtrade #organic #specialtycoffee #honduras #cafe #organico
#foodsafety - not as sexy as #chocolatemaking but I bet you'll be just as grateful for the results. 😉 . ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Today was all business and LOTS of note-taking. This was Alejandra's position for the whole day - head down, writing frantically! 😳Infinite thanks to @69medardo.lizano for helping us AND @xolchocolate assess and prepare for all of the requirements for exporting finished #snackingcacao and #chocolate to USA and Europe! We can't wait! . ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ . ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ . ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #directtrade #singleorigin #honduras #export #wholecacaobeans #cacao #helloworld
Product Development #powerteam! Ariel (left) continually reminds us - Nolvia (right) and I that Edison is reputed to have tried 1,000 times to invent the light bulb.💡 . ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We’re at 50+ experiments and counting. But the staff here is NOT complaining. Our “failures” are still tasty by all accounts and we’ve had many stop by to help taste test. 😋😍 . ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ And a special welcome to Ariel. He is the first man brave enough to join our all female production team in three years if I remember correctly!! . ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ . ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ . ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #newproduct #snackingcacao #cacaobeans #wholecacaobeans #healthysnacksonthego #healthysnacks #directtrade #singleorigin #vegan #handcrafted #cacaocaramelizado @xolchocolate
The #nursery. Members of @coagricsal have planted more than 1 million #cacaotrees on their #cacao and #coffeefarms in less than 10 years! 😲 . ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The trees take about 5 years to produce a full harvest. That’s A LOT of #chocolate to come! . ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The best practice on #organic farms is to create a diverse ecosystem of plants and trees. The trees in the lower right are NOT cacao trees - they are a taller, shade + fruit bearing tree. Any guesses as to what they are? Hint for those who know me - I couldn’t be more excited about this new addition!! 😍🥳😋 . ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ . ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ . ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #directtrade #singleorigin #organicfarming #honduras #tropicalfruit #plantnursery #farming #cacaofarming #treetobar #beantobar #beantobarchocolate
 

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