Ecuador the Journey of a Lifetime, by Chef John Martinez
When I received the invitation to attend the Cocoa Republic trip, I wasn't sure if I would be able to attend. But thank God it worked out! Because it truly was the trip of a lifetime. The trip went so smoothly thanks to the team and no detail was overlooked. We arrived in Guayaquil and had a nice break before dinner with our amazing tour guides and trip hosts.
Our first day of adventure started early in the morning, on our way to Vinces to see the cocoa plantations and the harvesting center. It was an amazing experience to see the cocoa trees and the farmers who work so hard to harvest and grow the cocoa. Something you take for granted being a pastry chef is where and how the chocolate you use every day is made. Seeing this process first hand was an eye-opening experience and something I will never forget.
Our second day was on the most magical mountain I have ever seen in my life. Not only was "El Milagro de la Panela" the main attraction, but also the breathtaking view from every angle. The flowering trees, the mountain tops, the amazing little house where we had lunch was a dream place. Pacto was my favorite part of the trip, it was just breathtakingly beautiful. The freshly made panela was the cleanest natural sugar I have ever tasted.
On our third day we traveled up into the Andes to Turucucho, this experience was definitely the highlight of the trip for the group. We were so high up in the mountains that you really appreciate how incredible mother earth is. Not only was the scenery magical, but also the women who grow the milk. These women are the hardest working women you will ever meet and the most humble.
Our last day of this trip was our tour of the chocolate factory - what a fun experience to see how everything is shut down to produce the chocolate I use in my kitchen! Of course, the tasting part of the chocolate factory tour was everyone's favorite.
For me, the whole experience was something I will never forget, from all the people who organized the trip to all those who were with us in Ecuador on the buses traveling with us to all the places. As a group, we laughed and cried together with joy at everything we experienced. The knowledge I gained from this trip allows me to better explain my craft to clients and co-workers. And thanks to all the photos I took along the way, my team felt like they were there with me. If someone had the opportunity to take this trip, they would definitely say it was a trip of a lifetime.
