Vietnam

Vietnam does not make people think of sweets, by any means. In fact, you’ll notice a lot of the same players in the Vietnam dessert scene: coconut, rice, bananas, and …

I’ll never forget my first taste of fresh cacao, sour and floral and so much sweeter than I had anticipated. I was so surprised at the bitterness that leaked out …

“Just because nobody’s told you you could, doesn’t mean you can’t.” -Samuel Maruta, Co-Founder of Marou Chocolate January 2021 note: I’ve just gotten word that Sam has passed away. He’ll …

Considering all the delicious chocolates in Vietnam— and the not-so-delicious— there are enough chocolate shops in Hanoi alone to keep you occupied for a full day. High-quality, home-grown chocolate (sôcôla …

While Vietnam isn’t currently world-renowned for its cacao— though it’s getting there— the country’s locally-made chocolate has been growing in popularity over the last decade. Despite not being on anyone’s …

“Basically we’re finding the limits of what there is today [in terms of quality Vietnamese cacao].” -Samuel Maruta, Marou Chocolate Many people still think of Vietnam in terms of its …

It would be offensive to send you to a Godiva Chocolate in Vietnam. It really would be. After all that I’ve seen of the chocolate and cacao production in this …

“Every farmer that we started with [in 2011], we are still working with.” -Vincent Mourou, Marou Chocolate Vincent Mourou is widely recognized as one of the first craft chocolate makers …

The taste of fresh cacao is unforgettable. It punches you in the mouth with a deep, honey sweet flavor that resembles a mango more than a chocolate bar. The brightness quickly …

But Wait…Why is it a Question? To start, I want to address the elephant dominating the tail end of the sentence— a question mark. Concerns were raised by fellow chocolate …