

Maker
SOMA ChocolatemakerSoma was founded by David Castellan and Cynthia Leung in 2003. A rarity in the industry, Soma are adept at both chocolate making, and also a fantastic chocolatier. At the time, ‘bean to bar’ chocolate wasn’t necessarily even a term! Anybody who knew how to make chocolate were those who worked for big chocolate companies. Soma was one of the first to tackle the micro batch chocolate bar production. Besides their wonderful line of chocolate bars, Soma also uses their chocolate to make ganache for truffles, and other chocolate treats. Soma's high quality chocolate bars have been awarded multiple times over the years. First starting off in a 400 square foot tiny corner of an old whiskey distillery, Soma now has two chocolate factories in Toronto, Canada.


Cacao Region
Zulia, VenezuelaZulia is the westernmost state in Venezuela, and besides containing one of the largest oil and gas reserves in the Western Hemisphere, Zulia includes the famous cacao-growing region of Maracaibo, which happens to be the state capital. Although Zulia is economically important to Venezuela due to its oil and mineral exploitation, it’s also one of the major agricultural regions of Venezuela, and contains historically-relevant trading ports.
Cacao Strain
Cacao Strain: GuasareGuasare is a criollo type with unusually tart fruity undertones and high productivity. The cultivar is named after the Guasare River of northern Venezuela, where it’s believed to originate. Its pods are large for a criollo type, while still exhibiting the typical pointed, warty exterior and white seeds. Considering how quickly the trees begin to produce fruits, some believe that the guasare cultivar is a direct descendant of the original cacao tree.