Mayan Chocolate Making in Belmopan

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Summary

Native to the jungles of Belize, the cacao bean has been cultivated and consumed by the Mayan people for thousands of years for its energizing and medicinal properties. To begin exploring this important part of the country’s culinary heritage, make your way to the Lamanai Chocolate Cabana in Belmopan, the inland capital city of Belize. Meet your hosts, two indigenous Maya women, who will explain the history of chocolate in Belize and how it has been an important part of local culture since ancient times. Watch as they roast locally grown, raw cacao beans on a traditional ‘kamal’ stove to release the flavor and then crush the beans by hand using a thousand-year-old grinding stone. Next comes the winnowing process, where fragments of the bean shells are extracted using a fan. Once all the shells are removed, beans are ground into a thick, fragrant paste using the stone. Finally, this paste is dissolved in water and combined with cream and sugar to make a delicious, sweet chocolate using only three high-quality, organic ingredients. After tasting this delicious Belizean specialty, you’ll never look at chocolate the same way again!

Why take this tour?

This tour is a great opportunity for those looking for something the entire family can do. It is a sustainable, eco-friendly, vegan, Mayan grown and processed chocolate experience. You will spend time with indigenous Belize Maya's as they describe and demonstrate their chocolate making skills passed down from generation to generation for thousands of years.

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What’s included?

  • GST (Goods and Services Tax)

  • Food tasting

  • Local guide

  • Gratuities

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off

Things to know

Before you book

  • Mobile tickets accepted

  • Instant confirmation

Cancellation Policy

    For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
Operator Website

Operated by:

Lamanai Chocolate Company

About operator:

We offer tours of our Chocolate Shop, Jungle trek and more! Currently we have two packages available for tours of Lamanai Chocolate Company if you are planning a vacation in Belize. Nothing is better than a chocolate tour and getting to participate with Mayan Chocolatiers willing to share their age old secrets of Chocolate with you. We take you through the entire process and you will have new understanding of what chocolate can do for you... We also serve lunch with reservations and deposit. We are roughly a 18 minute walk from the Caves Branch River making a great location for sightseeing and experiencing the entire country! So if you are planning a vacation or doing research to find a home in Belize, we have everything you might need, especially if you are wanting to do an off grid earth friendly experience.

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