Hacienda, Rum & Chocolate

OVERVIEW

Enjoy enlightening tours and tastings at a family-owned rum factory and at a chocolate factory located by an 18th-century hacienda. A maestro ronero or rum master will show you how the premium rums are produced with sugar cane, one of the main ingredients. It is a fascinating process especially when explained by the maestro, who is truly an artist in every aspect of the distillation. A sampling of premium rums will add another dimension to your understanding of how the production methods affect the taste. Similarly, you will learn about chocolate-making at a factory that uses a rare species of indigenous cocoa that is prized for its flavor. As you will discover through a tasting, the resulting chocolate is aromatic and not the least bit bitter like lower-quality chocolates. A tour of historical Hacienda de Chiapa – the former home of Mexico’s first female state governor – will enhance your understanding of rural life.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Follow a rum master through a distillery and see the process of making premium rums.
• Sample a selection of rums whose tastes reflect the sugar cane used to make them.
• See how chocolate is produced from a rare species of cocoa known for its distinct flavor.
• Tour an 18th-century hacienda, followed by a delightful restaurant light snack 2 Guacamole tostadas and 3 crispy potato tacos.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.