Cacao grinding in Mindo: Ancestral chocolate making

Roast cacao over clay, grind it with stone, taste what you made

La Leyenda de Chocolate is a 90-minute cacao-making class in Mindo where you roast dried beans over a traditional clay pan, peel them by hand, grind them using stone or mortar, and prepare an ancestral cacao drink with honey and spices. A live guide in English or Spanish leads the experience, accompanied by local drummers. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore cacao process and tasting

• Introduction to dried cacao
• Roast cacao beans on clay pan
• Peel cacao beans by hand
• Grind cacao with stone or mortar
• Prepare ancestral cacao drink
• Taste cacao drink with honey and spices
• Enjoy live drumming music

The experience

You start with the dried cacao bean. The foundation of everything that follows. The class walks you through each step of the ancestral process: roasting the beans over a traditional clay pan until they release their aroma, then peeling away the shell by hand to reach the nib inside. This is not observation. You do the work yourself, using the same methods that have shaped cacao preparation for centuries.

The grinding comes next, using a stone or mortar to break down the roasted nibs into a paste. Once you've ground the cacao, you prepare the final drink by mixing it with honey and spices, creating the energizing beverage that was once called the drink of the gods. You taste what you've made while live drummers from the local community play, anchoring the experience in the spiritual and cultural significance of cacao itself.

The whole experience runs about 90 minutes. A live guide in English or Spanish walks you through each stage, explaining the history and uses of cacao as you work. The class is suitable for all fitness levels, and children can join as long as they're accompanied by an adult. Infants can sit on a lap or in a specialized seat if needed.

What’s included

• Introduction to dried cacao and its ancestral uses.
• roasting and hand-peeling of cacao beans.
• traditional grinding with stone or mortar.
• preparation and tasting of the ancestral cacao drink you make.
• live music with local drummers.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 18:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (under 13)

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Mindo Chocolate Makers

Is this one for you?You do the roasting, peeling and grinding yourself with hand tools and traditional methods, so this suits anyone who wants to learn by doing rather than watching a demonstration. The live guide in English or Spanish means you get instruction as you work, making it accessible whether you speak one language or the other.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 13).

What exactly do I make and taste at the end of this class?

You prepare an ancestral cacao drink made with the beans you've roasted and ground yourself, mixed with honey and spices. You taste it at the end of the class while the live drummers perform.

Do I need any experience with cacao or chocolate making to join?

No experience is required. The class teaches you the entire ancestral process from dried bean to finished drink, starting with roasting and moving through each step at a pace suitable for all fitness levels.

How long does the whole experience take?

The class runs for 90 minutes, from the introduction to the dried cacao bean through the preparation and tasting of the finished drink.