In a bid to create new opportunities for the commercialization of Salvadoran cacao, the Salvadoran Embassy in Portugal hosted the first-ever “Chocolate and Wine Pairing” event on November 28. The event, organized in collaboration with The Cacau Club, Rego Wine, and Tribe Sorbetes, showcased the exceptional quality of Salvadoran cacao, marking a significant milestone in promoting this product internationally.

The event featured cacao of the “criollo” variety, renowned for its smooth and less bitter flavor compared to other Latin American regions. With roots tracing back to pre-Columbian times, Salvadoran cacao has primarily found a market in the United States, but this initiative aims to expand its reach into Europe.

Rosário Cunha, founder of Portugal-based The Cacau Club, proposed the event. Cunha presented five varieties of chocolate crafted from Salvadoran cacao, sourced from Poco a Poco, VaIcacao, and Cacao en Broma. Complementing the chocolate were award-winning wines provided by Rego Fine Wine, a century-old winery from Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, and vegan sorbets from Tribe Açaí, sustainably produced in Portugal using Brazilian-imported fruits.

The pairing event drew Portuguese business leaders interested in investment opportunities with Salvadoran cacao. The initiative successfully fostered connections that may lead to future exports of this prized product to Portugal, representing a promising step for Salvadoran cacao on the global stage.