Jade Mountain Chocolate Festival Promises Decadent Dessert Fun
Cacao is not commonly seen as a prominent cash crop in the Caribbean. After all, sugar was king here for hundreds of years. Tobacco, cotton, and coffee were even grown in various places at varying times.
Chocolate? Doesn’t that all come from Africa?
Indeed, a good 90% of all the world’s cacao is cultivated in West Africa. The earliest evidence of cacao seeds being turned into the types of chocolate treats we enjoy today, though, can be traced to Central and South America. So it wasn’t much of a stretch for the tradition to extend into the Caribbean. You can find (and taste) evidence of the Caribbean’s chocolate culinary tradition in a number of destinations. Dominica, Belize, Grenada, Martinique, Trinidad & Tobago – they’re all known for the sweet stuff.
Chocoholics lucky enough to be in St. Lucia just ahead of the Holiday Season, though, are in for an extra special treat…
Elevating Chocolate to Mountaintop Heights
Each year, Jade Mountain hosts the latest installment of its annual Chocolate Festival. Now, just as Jade Mountain is no ordinary hotel, so too is this no ordinary Chocolate Festival. Over the course of an extended weekend, guests have the opportunity to fully indulge their sweet teeth. They also glean a good bit of knowledge about the history and alchemy of the world’s favorite dessert.
Could there be a better place to enjoy a unique culinary experience like this? I doubt it. The Jade Mountain website tells why…
Cacao has a history in St Lucia that dates back to the 1700’s. Our Cacao trees, over 1000 strong, are established in both Anse Mamin Plantation and in Emerald Estate. We have been harvesting and producing cacao beans for generations. Now you can be one of the first to taste our premier vintage of our Jade Mountain Estate Grown chocolate.
That’s right, the property grows its own cacao! Jade Mountain also boasts a multigenerational pedigree of cultivating it. This, of course, speaks volumes to discerning dessert devotees. I mean, participants get to experience the full journey of the cacao seed – from pod to truffle – amid lush, tropical surroundings. Amazing!
Bespoke Sweetness
Also amazing, the renowned chefs Jade Mountain brings in for the Festival. Chef Allen Susser frequently leads discussions, shares his talents, tips, and chocolate treats.
Chocolat-tini cocktails, luxuriant chocolate spa treatments, chocolate-inspired finger foods, multi-course all chocolate-inspired dinners, and exotic desserts are all part of the fun. Indeed, this experience a must for all serious chocolate lovers.
Of course, this being Jade Mountain, one of the most exclusive properties in the Caribbean, you’ll also need to plunk down some serious cash. Think accommodations at $1,000+ per-night, EP.
Still, if you have the means, and a sweet tooth to match, this is one special weekend you won’t want to miss.
For more on the Jade Mountain Chocolate Festival, and all of the resort’s annual events, click here.
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