Here at Chocolates El Rey, we pride ourselves on doing everything with purpose. This intentionality influences the way we grow cacao and make our single origin chocolate, how we build relationships with farmers and customers, and even what we decide to call our chocolate! Read on to learn the stories behind the names at Chocolates El Rey.
Chocolates El Rey: “The King” of Venezuelan Chocolate
In 1929, Jose Rafael Zozaya and Carmelo Tuozzo founded their own chocolate company — the second ever in the history of Venezuela. They soon rose to prominence for making the finest chocolate in the country. They decided to call themselves Chocolates El Rey, meaning “the king” of chocolate.
Their legacy continues on today, almost 100 years later! Chocolates El Rey remains the preeminent chocolate producer in Venezuela.
A Deep Connection to the Land
Theobroma cacao, the tree that produces cacao beans, grows in hot, humid climates close to the equator. It is an understory tree, meaning it grows best in the shade of other, taller trees.
Because each of our chocolates comes from a unique variant of Theobroma cacao, we named many of our chocolates after the distinctive environments in which they grow:
APAMATE, our 73.5% dark chocolate, comes from the Venezuelan name for the rosy trumpet tree, under which this kind of cacao likes to grow. Like the name suggests, the rosy trumpet tree produces beautiful, delicate pink flowers.
BUCARE, our 58.5% dark chocolate, is also named for the tree under which it likes to grow. Bucare trees produce bright orange flowers and are planted in both cacao groves and coffee plantations to provide shade.
SUR DEL LAGO, the name of our 70% dark chocolate, means “south of the lake” in Spanish. This signifies the region south of Lake Maracaibo, in the Zulia state of Venezuela, where this special variety of cacao grows.
Rooted in Venezuelan Culture
Every step of our process, from growing cacao to producing chocolate, takes place in Venezuela. We are proud of our home country and its rich history.
Some of our names originate in Venezuelan folklore and traditions:
ICOA, our 34% white chocolate, comes from the name of the Venezuelan water goddess. Native people revered Icoa for nurturing their Theobroma cacao trees with the rain they needed to thrive.