Nahua Chocolate and Cacao, San Jose, Costa Rica
Whether you arrive in Costa Rica by air or cruise ship, you are likely to pass through the capital city of San Jose. Here, you will find a terrific collection of heritage buildings and national museums.
The National Theatre of Costa Rica was built in 1897 and is situated in San Jose.
I had the great pleasure of taking a day tour of San Jose back in 2001, and then returning in 2014 for a quick visit. Here are a few of the highlights:
The Inter-Americana Highway was built in the 1940’s with funding from the US. There therefore is a prominent American presence in Costa Rica, and specifically in San Jose, where you will find many American expats and American brands in stores (such as Walmart and Costco), restaurants (such as Pizza Hut) and hotels (such as Holiday Inn and Best Western.)
enjoying the pure vida in costa rica
The national motto of Costa Rica is “Pura Vida,” meaning pure life. You will see this on T-shirts and logos everywhere. You can indeed create a pure and simple life for yourself in Costa Rica, as I witnessed in Puerto Viejo, where nearly everyone I met was originally from the US and had left the fast lane behind to enjoy a slower and more simpler life in Costa Rica.
There are approximately 1,500 species of orchids in Costa Rica, making the orchid the national flower. And the iconic blue Morpho butterfly is the largest butterfly in Costa Rica, making this tiny Central American country a haven for naturalists.
Costa Rica is also a haven for chocolate lovers. As we learned in the past few posts, there are numerous small-batch artisanal chocolate makers in the Puerto Viejo and Upala regions of Costa Rica. In this post, I’d like to introduce you to Nahua Chocolate.
Juan Pablo Buchert of Nahua Chocolate is President of the Costa Rica Cacao Chamber.
nahua chocolate is great chocolate made in costa rica
Nahua Cacao and Chocolate is owned by Juan Pablo Buchert, an expat from Argentina married to Karla, a beautiful Costa Rican national, who were kind enough to host me during my time in San Jose. Juan Pablo is the person who has most educated me on the subject of sustainability in the world of chocolate. The concept of sustainability is far more important than fair trade or organic as it means that both the environment and the farmers have been cared for in the growing and sale of the cacao. I will be writing more about this in the future.
Nahua’s shade-grown cacao is provided by more than 300 farmers in the Upala region, where the cocoa is processed at the Upala Fermentation Centre. The fermented cocoa beans are then dried and transported to the Nahua Chocolate Factory in Ciudad Cariari, Heredia (near San Jose), where they roasted and made into 27 varieties of bars (tablets). Chocolate bonbons and truffles are also made fresh at this location. Be sure to check the Nahua Chocolate site if you plan to visit Costa Rica, as is it now sold in more than 250 locations throughout the country.
You can watch fresh chocolate being made at Nahua. You can also take chocolate classes. Check their website or facebook page for details, if you will be visiting Costa Rica.
If you visit San Jose, be sure to tour the city centre and the heritage buildings. And the street art! I’ll be leading a small group customized Chocolatour to Costa Rica in partnership with Go Ahead Tours. Registrations close July 31/19, so please don’t wait! Book your spot and join me as we discover Costa Rica!
Whether it is possible to find these chocolates in the place of The Dubai Mall???
I don’t believe that Central American chocolate makers have yet begun to expand as far flung as the UAE. They are all small producers, and their industry is in the fledgling state of development. I found it interesting how many European chocolatiers are selling their chocolate in Dubai! The world is certainly shrinking. Thanks for your comment.
I plan on going to Sedona as part of my spiritual journey.
Sedona is a nice place. I long to return. I wonder if they have any good chocolate …
The picture of those square shaped chocolate truffles just made me drool! I have never tried Nahua Chocolate but will definitely make it a point to drop in the next time I am in the area just so I can dig into those tempting truffles. Wish we could order them online every time we got the craving!
Hi Freddy: You can’t get the fresh chocolates delivered by mail, but if you want to try some of Nahua’s bars, you can get them via the Chocolate Craft site which features the best of Costa Rica at https://www.chocolate-craft.com/shop/. Enjoy!
I love this blog. What an amazing idea! Costa Rica is on my list for next year! The list is growing very big!
Thanks for your enthusiastic comment, Sally, and welcome to the blog! There is indeed much to enjoy in Costa Rica. Do place it high on your list!
I was in San Jose only overnight as, unfortunately, I was under the impression that there wasn’t much to do there. However, I do wish I had known about Nahua Chocolate because, well, mmm chocolate!
Hi Sky. What a lovely name. It opens up so many thoughts and possibilities.
I’ve learned that just about every place is worth exploring if you do your research. 🙂
Great post! I just got back from San Jose and am sad to have missed Nahua, which I hadn’t heard of before reading this post. Will definitely have to check them out next time we’re up there. From reading your blog, it looks like you covered a lot of chocolate ground in Costa Rica 🙂 One other place I’d recommend is La Iguana Chocolate in Mastatal. We visited them recently and it was an awesome experience. Small, family-run operation that is just branching out into commercial chocolate.
Thx for the tip, Jenn. I’ve not heard of La Iguana Chocolate. There are a few others that I sampled while in Costa Rica, but didn’t include them all in my posts as I’ve got to move on! I’ve got 3 trips that I still have to write up before I take my next one this coming weekend! Safe travels, and thx for stopping by.
Abolutely love the design of the Nahua chocolates. They really are works of art. Have never been to Costa Rica but if I go I will definitely pay a visit.
Thx for your comment, Catarina. Yes, it’s truly amazing at how chocolatiers and chocolate makers can create works of art with their chocolate. It almost makes it look too good to eat!
I have not been to Costa Rica but my husband and I have discussed visiting several times.
Hi Cheryl: I’m sure you’d like Costa Rica. It is remarkably beautiful, filled with natural wonders, English is not a problem in communicating, relatively safe and inexpensive … and there’s great chocolate! 🙂
San Jose is a great city! One I haven’t spent nearly enough time in. Those chocolates are so pretty!
Hi Tracie. Yes, I haven’t spent enough time in San Jose either. But I’m sure glad I discovered Nahua chocolates!
We spent several weeks in Costa Rica exploring both the Pacific and Caribbean Coasts (including Puerto Viejo) and loved the country. Although we sampled a few different chocolates I’m sure, if I’d tasted the Nahua Chocolates I’d remember them. They look fabulous and I’m drooling over the beautiful candies pictured. So glad you were able to visit the National Theater which was a beautiful historical site that we enjoyed.
Thx for sharing your thought, Anita! Yes, it’s interesting how the Pacific and Caribbean coasts are quite different, isn’t it? I sure wish I’d had more time to explore Costa Rica. Hopefully, another visit will happen soon. 🙂
I had no idea that Costa Rica had such marvelous chocolate. Yet another reason to put it on the must-travel-to list. Thanks!
Nor did I, Sue! Until I visited the Puerto Viejo Chocolate Fest and met all the chocolate makers! That’s why chocolatourism is so much fun! You get to travel to different parts of the world and see how different the chocolate looks and tastes from country to country. Thx for stopping by the blog for a taste of the fun. 🙂
Costa Rica remains stubbornly on my bucket list, but when I do visit I will be sure to sample some Nahua chocolate.
Hi Carole. I’m sure you’ll enjoy both: the visit, and the chocolate!
Orchids, butterflies, and Nahua chocolates–what’s not to like?
Right on, Carole! Costa Rica is an ideal place for those who love nature and culinary delights! I’d love to go back and just hang out for awhile.
Wow ~ Costa Rica seems like a million miles away from me here in Australia, but gee…. you’ve certainly got the taste buds going and such a yearning to visit this magical and chocolatey place!
Hi Linda: That’s the way I feel about Australia! So far away, but I know I’ll love every minute of it. Once I get there!!!
I haven’t visited Costa Rica yet, but I would love to. Even more so now that I know there is good chocolate there!
Hi Shelley: Yes, there is lots to see and do in Costa Rica. It is truly a nature — and chocolate — lover’s dream!
Doreen, I’ve never been to Costa Rica either. I know that many Americans live there because they feel more comfortable then they would be in other Latin American countries. I would find it difficult to leave the good old USA. Maybe I’m too used to life in the fast lane!
Hi Jeannette: I left the “fast lane” back in 1982 and moved to the country. Lived there 25 years and then in 2007, moved to a lakeside resort community. Love it,too. But … a tropical BEACHSIDE community with a welcoming, laid back vibe is definitely on my wish list for retirement.
I’ve been to Costa Rica many times but never tried Nahua Chocolate – how could I have missed it??? I’ll be going to Guanacaste next week so hope I can find some at the Liberia airport. You’ve inspired me to think chocolate when I think Costa Rica
Hi Michele: Yes, I think you will be pleased if you read the series of posts I’ve done about Costa Rican chocolate and look out for the ones I have highlighted. They’re all good, but each is different than the other. I don’t know where Guanacaste is, so I don’t think any of the ones I met are from that area, but as you mention, there may be some at the airport. I did see Britt Chocolate at the airport in San Jose, and it is OK, but not the same as the handcrafted small batch artisan chocolate I have been recommending to my readers.
Hi Doreen, Costa Rica has always been high on my list of places to visit some day. I’ve known people that have retired down there and have nothing but good things. If I do ever make it, I’ll definitely try the chocolate. But that holds true for whatever country I visit. Lol
Hi Susan: Yes, I met quite a few Californians who are now living in Costa Rica and loving it! I think you’d quite enjoy it, as the food is really good. Many restauranteurs who have come from abroad and started up some great restos.
The chocolates of Nahua look like art work!
Hi Irene. Yes, indeed. You’ll find there to be quite a large number of artisan chocolate makers and chocolatiers around the world who see their chocolates as a canvas on which to create mini works of art! Nahua is doing a fine job at creating some very enticing chocolate art.
I’m with Renée! 6:30 in the morning and I’m craving chocolate! I’m going to start keeping track for you, Doreen, when I come upon special chocolates!
Thx, Rachel. That’s indeed, what I’ve been asking readers to do. Make recommendations and cautionary comments about any chocolate brands or experiences they may encounter. I can’t possibly do it alone! 🙂
Your posts always make me hungry for chocolate. You must have a wonderful time hunting down the best beans.
Hi Renee and Thx for your comment. I’m glad you enjoy the chocolate posts. Yes, it’s fun tasting all the different chocolate and studying how different it tastes from region to region. Cheers!
You’re forgetting people like us (who arrived by bus)!
We quite enjoyed San Jose, a lovely place to spend a day or two… however, for the backpacker, San Jose (and Costa Rica in general) is a very expensive place to visit, partly due to the many expats you’ve already mentioned (parts of Mexico are the same).
Sadly, we only had a small sample of Costa Rican chocolate in La Fortuna, and it was a little disappointing…
Hi Chris and Thx for your comment. I did not make it to La Fortuna. Where is that, and do you happen to remember the name of the chocolate you had?
La Fortuna is most famous for it’s thermal waters (and therefore hot spas), I think in the north, central part of Costa Rica.
Sadly I can’t recall the name of the chocolate place (as it wasn’t so memorable), however there have been a few other chocolate experiences I’ll make sure I keep the details and can therefore pass them on 😉
Thx, Chris.