Cacaste
Sacred Cacao: A Sensory and Spiritual Journey to the Ancestral Roots of Southeastern Mexico.
The Cacaste community is dedicated to cocoa production and artisanal chocolate making in and around Comalcalco, in Tabasco. The organization works to ensure quality while promoting the well-being of the community through sustainable practices. They also preserve ancestral traditions.
The famous Kakaw ceremony is aimed at reconnecting with and revaluing cacao: “the drink of the Gods.” Visitors and participants can conclude the ceremonial experience with a tasting of the cacao beans, pozol, and artisanal chocolate. The local host Veronica Candalero Garcia, welcomes visitors with an introduction to the ancient seed. Guests are transported to the cacao farms all while learning about production, the agricultural and forest culture necessary to its production, and the lives of the people dedicated to it.
Participants also learn about its origins, uses, and symbolism over the course of history begin with early domestication by the ancient Olmec people. It was their technique that eventually passed to the Maya and other Mesoamerican peoples. Long considered a sacred food, it's still held in high regard nearly everywhere. The encounter goes beyond the informative with true reflections on the cultural legacy of cacao across the region.
Most guests will arrive to the Cacaste community after a visit to the incredible ruins and archaeological district in Comalcalco. A stay in the town of a few day is richly rewarded with visits to the chocolate producing areas, as well as to the market and more recent historical sites.
Contact:
Verónica Candelero García
Tel: 993 438 5371
chocolatescacaste@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/cacastechocolate
https://www.instagram.com/cacastetab/
https://www.tiktok.com/@Chocolatescacaste
