There are so many amazing experiences to have in Costa Rica, so planning a trip can be overwhelming! My family requested a chocolate making class and wow were we impressed by our experience. If you find yourself in Costa Rica this is an absolute must for any, and every, type of traveler!
What sets this class apart from others is all that it includes and the attention to detail. There was an organic farm tour, chocolate history, sampling of cacao in various states, making traditional chocolate tea and hot chocolate, making our own chocolates, and a mocktail/cocktail.
The mocktail/cocktail making with fresh pressed sugar cane juice, Costa Rican Cacique (Sugar Cane Alcohol) and the juice of mandarin limes. The recipe for this delicious drink can be found in this article Costa Rican Lemonade Cocktail!
This post is all about a fantastic chocolate making class in Costa Rica.
where is it located?
After extensive research I landed on the Two Little Monkeys Chocolate Tour and Workshop just outside of La Fortuna. After reserving a time, they sent a very comprehensive map with the 3 routes you would likely take to get to their location with recommendations based on road quality and drive time.
The Chocolate class
Everything about our experience with Two Little Monkeys was exceptional. The class starts with a bit of the history of chocolate, the traditional ways to eat and drink chocolate, and a lesson in health benefits of each part of the cacao.
You’ll start by sampling the freshly cracked open cacao fruit. The white fleshy surrounding of the cocoa bean is a nice balance of sweet and tart with hints of other regional fruits.
We then saw pre-roasted, roasted, fermented and shelled cacao beans. They were sure to teach us about the nutrient benefits of cacao nibs and where cacao butter comes from. You’ll even get to learn how different cultures and countries make their chocolate.
A unique aspect of the class is that they allow you to grind the cacao nibs in a traditional metate. The metate they use is from volcanic rock from the Arenal volcano in the distance.
The Chocolate workshop
With our new found appreciation for the chocolate we would soon be eating, it was time to make our own! They prepped squeeze bags of their dark, milk and white chocolate and set out various toppings and moulds to make our own chocolate treats.
Combining fun flavors like milk chocolate with cinnamon and salt or dark chocolate with cayenne pepper is sure to get your creative juices flowing. This was a great activity and truly can be enjoyable for people of all ages.
My favorite part (The organic farm tour)
While waiting for your chocolates to solidify, you’ll go on a tour of their organic farm. They are very passionate about their cultivation processes. They grow various crops on their property and remaining organic is integral to their company. For us, it was incredible to see so many different crops grown that we’d never seen growing in person.
They grow papaya, guava, pineapple, bananas, plantains, peppercorn, allspice, vanilla beans, sugar cane, turmeric, mandarin limes and of course cacao. There are probably more crops, but this is all that I can remember!
The fresh yellow vanilla beans that smell like baked goods, green peppercorns that turn black when dried and allspice trees with leaves that can numb your tongue stood out to me the most.
This chocolate making class in Costa Rica is so much more than just a class. Two Little Monkeys is truly such a magical and special place.
How to reserve
If you’re sold and want to know how to reserve a spot for upcoming travels you can email them directly at: twolittlemonkeyschocolate@gmail.com or go on their website and follow the prompts!
Other Fantastic Cooking Classes Around the World
- Learn to Grill in Argentina
- Underground Geothermal Rye Bread in Iceland
- Traditional Italian Cooking Class in Tuscany
[…] To learn more about this class and to book it for yourself, click here! […]