Interview & Tasting: Mashpi Chocolate, Ecuador | #PodSaveChocolate
Episode 41 of #PodSaveChocolate features an interview and tasting with and of Mashpi Chocolate, Ecuador.
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Episode 41 Overview
In this episode, I will be joined by Ale (Ecuador) and Val (US) from Masphi Chocolate. As I’ve written in other posts, one of my favorite episode formats is to interview a chocolate maker – especially when they’re checking in from a producing country – and taste and respond to their work, live.
I first discovered Mashpi in Amsterdam during Chocoa in 2016 and have some very specific, and very happy memories of a bar with an inclusion of a cacao pulp reduction/syrup.
Three images I took of Vanne Wurth, who was representing Mashpi at Chocoa in 2016. I do not believe Vanne is still associated with Mashpi, but I really like this triptych presentation.
I was reintroduced to Mashpi during the 3rd edition of the Craft Chocolat Challenge in the form of two entries. While these two entries did not receive an award, I was happy to learn that Mashpi would be exhibiting at the 2024 Southwest Chocolate and Coffee Fest in Albuquerque in early April.
Clay Gordon
I made a particular point of dropping by their stand to introduce myself and collect some bars in anticipation of this episode. Ale, Val, and I will explore the history of Mashpi, Ecuadorian cocoa, what it has meant to be a maker in Ecuador given the current political unrest (and more), and field comments and questions from the live audience.
Locating Mashpi on a map of Ecuador. In 2005 I visited Quito, Otavalo, and environs. In 2022 I spent about five days in and around Puerto Quito.
Photos from Mashpi
Here are the bars we will be tasting during the episode:
- 65% dark
- 65% dark with salt and cardamom
- 65% dark with calamondin (CCC entry)
- 70% dark with cacao nibs (CCC entry)
- 80% dark unroasted
Episode Hashtags and Related Accounts to Follow
#MashpiChocolate
#cocoa #cacao #cacau
#chocolate #chocolat #craftchocolate
#PodSaveChocolate #PodSaveChoc
#LaVidaCocoa #TheChocolateLife
Mashpi (Ecuador) on Instagram
Mashpi (USA) on Instagram
Future Episodes
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Clay Gordon
Clay Gordon