Also from the Same Region
Maker
DomoriDomori is a gourmet Italian chocolate maker that focuses on making bars with low production process. They use a low roast profile and medium conch (the stage in which chocolate gets its characteristic taste and mouthfeel from cacao beans) to preserve and maintain the aromas and flavors of the fine cacao beans they feature in their bars. Founded by Gianluca Franzoni in 1997, they are considered one of Europe's finest chocolate makers. Franzoni traveled to Venezuela to help develop a business model to reposition cacao but was ultimately fascinated by cacao itself. He experimented with different varieties to help preserve Venezuela’s biodiversity and even helped prevent the extinction of the Criollo beans. Domori is the first company to use the fine Criollo variety, which is considered the rarest and most prized cacao bean in the world. Their signature 100% Trinitario and unique 70% Criollo strains are an achievement that elevates cacao to a whole new level. The name ‘Domori’ comes from ‘Due Mori’ in Venetian which refers to objects of dark color. Franzoni wanted a name to portray his expressive chocolate company. Venice is considered the land of trades of spices and ideas, and its ‘Due Mori’ representing two bronze statues in the famous Piazza San Marco. Also to Franzoni, the term ‘Due Mori’ is represents two dark beans: cacao and coffee.


Cacao Region
Aragua, VenezuelaAragua State is located squarely in northern Venezuela, along the central coast. The region encompasses a variety of climes, including beaches, plains, and jungles, the latter of which is home to one of the state’s many industries: cacao farming. The municipalities of Choroní, Ocumare, and Chuao are some of the most famous & historic cacao-growing areas of Venezuela, as well as the home of— arguably— its most beautiful beaches. In Ocumare the main industries are fishing and cacao production, while Chuao is famously close to the capital city of Caracas, but difficult to get to. The village is only accessible by travelling via boat from nearby Choroní, and then trekking a few miles inland.
Cacao Strain
ChuaoChuao, is named for the isolated Venezuelan village in which it’s grown. Chuao is one of the cultivars of the the Criollo group. Chuao cacao is said to be a carefully-fermented representation of the best varietals from Venezuela, rich with berries and a sharp cocoa base, finishing heavy. Differentiating a cacao as “chuao” is not to necessarily name it a pure criollo, but to clarify that it comes from the coastal village of Chuao, an area isolated to the point that its cacao has developed its own unique blend of flavors.