Cacao Origins
Northern Trinidad
Photo credit: Lopinot Tourism Association
Photo credit: Mariposa Cafe
Village of Lopinot
Mariposa Cafe and B&B, a must stop on the World Chocolate Trail, offers accommodation and an organic menu featuring pure, rich homegrown cocoa in many of their dishes (both sweet and savoury). As the fresh homegrown cocoa ingredients require some preparation, please mention that you would like to try them when you make your reservation.
Photo credit: Alliance of Rural Communities of Trinidad and Tobago (ARCTT)
Grande Rivere, Biche, Brasso Seco
Several Northern Range villages in the Alliance of Rural Communities of Trinidad and Tobago (ARCTT) offer tours and host scheduled events. The ARCTT seeks to support and develop financially independent, community owned chocolate businesses and affiliated projects using rural resources, labor and creativity. They support community chocolate making and sales in the northern villages of Brasso Seco, Grande Riviere (known for turtle observation), Biche and Tobago. ARCTT has also begun supporting rural communities in other Caribbean countries.
Photo credit: Brasso Seco Paria Tourism Action Committee
Brasso Seco
The Brasso Seco Paria Tourism Action Committee invites you to explore the valley of life as a cocoa farmer. They offer a tour of an old cocoa estate and many other activities, including accommodation in a host home with welcoming locals. At the community centre there are cocoa products produced from local farms.
Photo credit: La Vapeur Estate
Paramin
La Vapeur Estate is a secluded eco cabin with mountain and sea views offers several agro-tourism activities including exploring their legacy cocoa plantation where you can pick and taste cocoa fresh from the pod. www.lavapeurestate.com
Photo credit: Cocoa Research Centre, University of the West Indies
St Augustine
Cocoa Research Centre of University of the West Indies conducts research and supports cocoa cultivation and transformation in several countries in the Caribbean Region. They offer the Genebank Tour, a unique opportunity to observe the widest variety of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) trees to be found anywhere in the world. It is a treasury of cocoa genes spanning an area of 37 hectares. Bookings must be made at least three weeks in advance to ensure availability. The minimum number of participants is 6. There are several other activities for visitors in development at the Cocoa Research Centre.
Photo credit: Ortinola Estate
Maracas Valley
Ortinola Estate in the 19th century was a busy and prosperous cocoa estate operated by the Cadbury Brothers of England. The main house was lovingly restored by a local family several years ago. You can make reservations for afternoon tea or tours of the cocoa estate or buy their homemade single estate chocolate. You can also enjoy a relaxing stroll on the estate and admire the lush rainforest covered mountains.
Photo credit: Chocolate Bar Café
Santa Cruz
Chocolate Bar Café is a chocolate shop and tea room, also open for breakfast and brunch.
Photo credit: Santa Cruz Green Market
Santa Cruz
Green Market is an organic market in a beautiful setting, home to many events. Open every Saturday from 6am- 1pm. Local chocolatiers occasionally sell their products.
Photo credit: Cocobel Chocolate
Port of Spain
Cocobel Chocolate is a Chocolate Shop and Art Gallery. They are single estate chocolate makers with wild Trini passion.Central Trinidad
Photo credit: Montserrat Cocoa Farmers Co-Op
Gran Couva
The Montserrat Cocoa Farmers Co-Op is a farmer-owned Agricultural Cooperative that organises Cocoa Food Festivals and Chocolate sales, check their events page for upcoming events www.facebook.com/Montserrat-Cocoa-Farmers-Co-Op-1253578508030215/
Photo credit: Kelrosa EcoSanctuary
Tableland
Kelrosa EcoSanctuary is 8-bedroom home on a 10-acre cocoa estate that offers accommodation with modern amenities kelrosaecosanctuary.com or www.facebook.com/Kelrosa-Sanctuary-1382686938628163/South Trinidad
Photo credit: Moruga National Cocoa and Chocolate Museum
Moruga
The National Cocoa and Chocolate Museum of Trinidad & Tobago is a legacy great estate which includes a collection of buildings (cocoa houses, managers quarters, barracks, stables, cocoa & coffee factory space). The Museum has an archival collection of over 100 books that date back to the early 1900’s about the day to day functions of the estate. They offer tours that must be reserved ahead of time.
Photo credit: Rancho Quemado
Palo Seco
Rancho Quemado Estate is dedicated to preserving local culture and to educating both young and old. They offer tours and wildlife preservation activities.Tobago
Photo credit: Tobago Cocoa Estate
