I have always been a chocoholic and once I sampled my first square of dark arriba Ecuadorian chocolate there became no way back for my addiction. I’ve spent a bit of time in Ecuador finding out about the nation’s relationship to the sweet stuff. And it really is one woven with intrigue. The journey to the heart of Ecuadorian cacao country to track down the beans at their source revealed some fascinating facts (the above picture was taken at a festival to ascertain Ecuador’s “Cacao Queen” of the year…) This for Lonely Planet:

Spilling the Beans: Exploring Ecuador’s Elusive Chocolate Industry

Categories: Amazon Travel, Culinary TravelTags: amazon rainforest, Arriba chocolate, Cacao, Chocolate, chocolate tours, Ecuador