Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Ah Cacao, a Mexican artisan chocolate brand, is marking World Cocoa Day by showcasing the country’s ancient cocoa legacy through traditional production methods and community events.
The observance, established in 2010 by the International Cocoa Organization, recognizes the cultural, economic, and nutritional importance of cocoa. According to the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), cocoa consumption in Mexico dates back more than 3,600 years.
Revered by Mesoamerican civilizations as the “food of the gods,” cocoa was used in ceremonies, as medicine, and even as currency, making it one of Mexico’s most significant contributions to global gastronomy.
Today, cocoa remains an economic driver. Data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) shows Mexico produces about 29,000 metric tons annually, ranking eighth in Latin America and thirteenth worldwide. Tabasco, Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Guerrero lead national production. The National Association of Chocolate, Candy, and Similar Manufacturers estimates that more than 45,000 Mexican families depend on cocoa-related activities, while the Ministry of Economy reported exports worth $101 million in April 2026.
Artisan Chocolate with Mexican Pride
Founded in 2004, Ah Cacao has built a reputation for artisan chocolate by working directly with domestic producers. The company sources ingredients from local supply chains to promote conscious consumption. Its factory in Playa del Carmen operates on solar energy, and each chocolate bar, beverage, dessert, and specialty coffee reflects the work of farmers who have cultivated cocoa for millennia.
Cocoa Week for the Community
To commemorate World Cocoa Day, Ah Cacao organized a week of free activities in Playa del Carmen, including a tasting of new products, a ceremonial cacao yoga session with singing bowls, a Cacao Run Party combining exercise and music, and a chocolate-making workshop on July 7 where participants learned to craft chocolate using a traditional metate (grinding stone). The events aim to preserve and spread Mexico’s cocoa heritage.
A Chocolate for the Heart
Ah Cacao’s Chocolate Cafés in Cancún and Playa del Carmen have become a must-visit for food tourism in the Mexican Caribbean. They offer traditional Maya chocolate, specialty Mexican coffees, gluten-free brownies, ice cream, artisan bread, and a wide variety of chocolates made from Mexican cocoa.
