I visited the Sendero de Cacao outside of San Francisco de Macoris this summer. It was closed but had the opportunity to speak to the couple who run it for the Rizeks. It is beautiful and if you get a chance, take the tour. The Rizek family is the largest exporter of cacao in the country and one of the largest in the world. While speaking with Don Rizek this summer in his office, he let me try some wonderful Dominican chocolate which recently won an award in Europe for it's quality. I also visited their lab in SFM and was given a taste of pure cacao paste in liquid form that was amazing. I was also given a 3lb bag of cocoa which has a much lower fat content because the butter or mateca has been taken out. It is very nice to use in the house. More for baking or for chocolate milk or tea. And in the capital I visited their offices and was given a 70% chocolate bar of very high quality. Good quality chocolate is somewhere in the country.
My favorite chocolate, are the balls of cacao paste which the women of Los Naranjos, de Castillo sell for way to cheap. I must of bought at least 200, 4-5 oz. balls of pure organic cacao Sanchez, which is the cheap stuff. Brought back about 40 with me and gave the rest away. Grate it, boil it in water, milk or soy milk. Put in in my farina, and anything else that makes sense.
Gave a few balls to a family friend who runs a mexican restraurant on the Lower East Side. Will get some feed back soon about the mole.
