Ajaw – The Chocolate Maker

Did you know that in the United States, a typical American will eat their weight in chocolate about every 10 years? Fascinating, huh? 

Americans, on the whole, consume 2.8 billion pounds of chocolate each year. Ladies and gents, that’s billion…with a capital B! That averages out to over 11 pounds per person each and every year. The U.S. produces more chocolate than any other country in the world, but the Swiss consume the most, followed closely by the United Kingdom. Wow!

I love chocolate. Always have, always will. But, to be honest with you, I’ve never given much thought as to where it comes from. I’ve always been aware that there was such a thing as a cacao bean, but frankly, prior to being here to Belize, I couldn’t have told you whether they grow on bushes or trees. I was choco-challenged!

After visiting with Adrian and Elida at Ajaw Chocolate in San Ignacio, Belize, I’ve turned into a choco-maven and have learned to fully appreciate this wonderful bean and its riveting history.