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August is Choccy Month in Saint Lucia!
OK So how many of you know that Saint Lucia is famous for cocoa and hence chocolate? Did you also know that August is dedicated as "Chocolate Month".
During August therefore, hotels, restaurants and resorts all vie with one another, to create the best culinary creations and also spa treatments based on this heavenly substance.
Saint Lucia is a fantasy landscape, a tropical beach with the twin peaks of the volcanic Pitons providing a stunning backdrop. As if a trip to Saint Lucia couldn't get any more surreal, the Caribbean island has become one of the world's hottest destinations for chocolate tourism, and tasting this decadent treat while you're here is definitely worth your while.
A history of Chocolate in Saint Lucia
Chocolate is part of
Saint Lucia's legacy: The island has produced cacao for centuries. The island's mountain slopes provide ideal growing conditions, as cacao trees love rich volcanic soil and shade.
In the past, the island's cacao beans were exported to Europe or to Hershey, Pennsylvania to be made into chocolate; today, Saint Lucia keeps some cacao for its own chocolate production. Chocolate-making is very labor-intensive, and the process has hardly changed over the years. However, there has been one modification. The traditional cocoa-rina dance—done barefoot atop cacao beans to polish them—now belongs to the past.
Different types of Chocolate in Saint Lucia.
Saint Lucia chocolate is for discerning purists, as it contains less sugar than Belgian, Dutch, French, American, and other chocolates. This results in a more intense cocoa flavor, one that can be enjoyed in a variety of concoctions and recipes.
Single-estate Saint Lucia chocolate—made entirely on one plantation—is high status and has its own flavor, much like wine from different vineyards. The flavor of this is best enjoyed in moderation.
Saint Lucia makes both milk and dark chocolate. The milk chocolate is smooth and airy; the dark chocolate is full of deep flavor, barely sweetened, but not bitter. In Saint Lucia, chocolate is considered as much a savory mealtime experience as a sweet experience. If you're craving dessert, we recommend tasting a Saint Lucia banana split or Saint Lucian Chocolate Cake.
Cocoa Tea
Cocoa tea is a Saint Lucia tradition that captivates visitors. It was originated by newly freed slaves as a cheap, locally produced alternative to expensively imported coffee beans or tea leaves. Nowadays, cocoa tea is served all over Saint Lucia, from roadside carts to the finest restaurants. Cocoa sticks, used to make cocoa tea, are easy to find in Saint Lucia and make for a great souvenir.
