ORIGIN
Science has shown that 5,500 years ago, in the Ecuadorian Amazon, cocoa was already part of the social fabric of the Mayo Chinchipe Marañón Culture. This discovery positions Ecuador as the new center of cocoa origin and consumption in America.
The evidence rescued from the Santa Ana – La Florida archaeological site located on the southern border of Ecuador, in the town of Palanda, in the province of Zamora Chinchipe, allowed us to identify native traces of cocoa with the oldest Carbon 14 date obtained in America; 1,500 years earlier than in Mexico and Central America.
To determine the origin of cocoa, scientists collected ceramic residues from 19 human cultures more than 6,000 years old and from 6 different countries in America; The idea was to find residues of cocoa DNA.
The dispersal of cocoa from Ecuador to the rest of America occurred rapidly for at least 3,000 years. Its dissemination along the coasts is well documented in the archaeological finds of the Chorrera Culture of the province of Esmeraldas; in which there are representations of the cocoa pod and traces of its consumption identical to those of the Palanda jungle.
Our fine aroma cocoa originates from Esmeraldas, where the Chachi Cayapa Culture has lived acestrally. They prepare a drink very similar to the one found in the Palanda vessel, mixing the pulp that covers the cocoa seeds with water, to obtain a thick liquid with a pleasant bittersweet flavor, very refreshing and appreciated.
The exceptional reputation of Esmeraldas fine aroma cocoa dates back to the 18th century and is based on the size of its beans, its generous amount of butter and its delicate flavor. The cultivation of this cocoa was also quickly adopted by the Afro-descendant populations who settled in that province since the 16th century.
The ancestral uses and knowledge associated with the cultivation of fine aroma cocoa from Ecuador are part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of our country, not only due to recent archaeological evidence but also due to its pharmacological, religious, economic and nutritional use; being the most important reference of pride, roots and progress of our entire nation.
