Ecuador is famous for its chocolate.
One of the best we’ve tasted is Pacari.
They make this amazing chocolate bar with dried figs. In case you didn’t know – I love figs. When we moved to Ecuador I didn’t know this about myself.
But with a combination of higos con queso, empanadas with figs and now chocolate bars with figs I can’t get enough.
Pacari is based in Quito and they export to the United States.
Pacari Chocolate is family owned and produce certified organic “from tree to bar” chocolate products.
(I would have included a photo of the actual chocolate bars … but I accidentally ate them.)
Ingredient List for Fig Chocolate Bar
Varieties of Pacari Chocolate Bars
Fruit and Raw Chocolate Flavors
- Uvilla (Goldenberry): sweet-tart berries with dark chocolate
- Cherry
- Fig
- Mortiño (Andean Blueberry)
- Merken Chili Chocolate
- Lemongrass
- Raw 70% Cacao Chocolate
- Raw 85% Cacao Chocolate
- Raw 70% Cacao with Spirulina Chocolate
- Raw 70% Cacao with Salt and Nibs Chocolate (ground cacao nibs)
- Raw 100% Cacao Chocolate
- Raw 70% Cacao with Maca Chocolate
- Salt and Nibs Chocolate
Regional Chocolate Flavors from Around Ecuador
Two of these provinces are on Ecuadors coast. Los Rios is at the foot of the Andes – located inland from the coastline.
Esmeraldas: banana, floral and honey- Los Rios: fruit blossom, guanábana and roasted coffee
- Manabi: nut and citrus flower flavors
Esmeraldas: banana, floral and honeyThey have two limited edition flavors that won gold and silver at the International Chocolate Awards: Limited Edition Piura Chocolate and Limited Edition Nube.
In addition to chocolate bars, they also make chocolate covered cacao beans, chocolate covered dried bananas (and uvillas, espresso beans and cacao nibs), drinking cacao (ginger, cinnamon and natural) and a variety of superfood products.
Learn more about sweets in Ecuador in our post about 16 Ecuador desserts.
We’ve tried the three flavors above, along with some of the basic raw chocolate bars. But with 19 different flavors we have some work to do.
Try Pacari Chocolate While in Ecuador
While they are worth every penny, ordering these online will cost more than here in Ecuador. These chocolate bars are listed at $2.25 ea – although they cost just $2.01 at SuperMaxi. Online (from the US) they will cost from $5.49 to $7.50 each.
If you are visiting Ecuador be sure to try a few of these. If you live in Ecuador then you have it made! If not, you can still get these on Amazon.
Which flavor do you want to try first?
Have you found another great brand? Please share it in the comments below.
Found your blog and went out for some chocolate and yuca bread on our last day in Cuenca before Peru. Yum! Keep up the good blog!
So glad to hear it.
Happy travels!
Hi Bryan,
We are coming in July to look around the country. Very interested in getting around to see where we can fit in the best. Do you blog on other cities also?
Yes, we also write about Quito, Guayaquil, Salinas, Galapagos and many of the small towns. You can find the information by searching in the sidebar.
Brian,
I love this kind of post which deals not with the essentials of life in Ecuador but with the life surrounding it. We got back from Cuenca in early April. The place is still a marvel with much to be discovered. We acquainted ourselves with Saraguo (a column from there would be great) and went back to Zaraguro, both these places south of Cuenca and easily accessible. You can see some of our pictures of our trips on Flickr.
Zaraguro/Podocarpus are fantastic places to visit if you needed some place to go.
Great info on the chocolate! We will look for Pacari bars in Supermaxi when we’re back in Dec. Look forward to it. Supermaxi has no shortage of yummy things to eat and the palette in Cuenca for delicious food is extraordinary, so diaries of this topic are nearly endless.
Here in Oregon it is the most beautiful of seasons, spring. Last night a tiny dusting of snow on the highest hills here. Even so, I am missing Cuenca, though I understand it’s a bit wetter there than here.
Thanks for the recommendations. They are on our list for sure.
Hey Bryan
I like your Family,my family of 3 too.We are living in Tartous city at the mediterranean sea
in Syria. My daughter now at the Univ. 4-th class in pharmacy. I,m so sorry ,that we can,t
convert money from here to another country to buy anything.
I like Ecuador a lot from your E-mail. I think i,ll go there after my daughter finishing her study.We have here many kinds of figs ,it,s very dilicious.But now first i heard about chocolate from figs.
Thank you and Best Regard
Thanks so much! The chocolate with dried figs is outstanding.
Organic Chocolate, great idea. I know just some one who would really enjoy this news letter. I am forwarding this.
Thank you for all these great news letters and it has been really informative and unbiased. It is helping me a lot as I am moving to Ecuador with my wife in two weeks, at least for 6 months , with the hope of staying there. continually.
Thanks Raj. All the best on your plans!