Overnight at a Mexican Chocolate Plantation? Yes!

Chocolate Lovers Dream? We got to eat fresh Cocoa beans straight from the trees, plus grind and make our own chocolate! This might be our most delicious overnight camping spot ever!
Over 17,000 Tons of chocolate are produced each year in the Mexican state of Tabasco, representing 70% of total national production. CACEP, one of the oldest growers in the region, allows RVers like us to stay overnight on the original farm, Hacienda Cacaotera Jesus Maria y Chocolates, for FREE (if you pay for the tour in the morning). This is an amazing opportunity to learn more about chocolate production, from bean to bar (or tree to table)!
After calling ahead, we arrived to Hacienda Cacaotera Jesus Maria in the early evening and were greeted by the night guard at the farm. He helped guide us to park along the side of the main parking area, right next to the trees. It was a relaxing evening listening to the sounds of the jungle, knowing that the next day would be full of deliciousness! The following morning, we walked into the factory store, paid $100mxp/person and were on our way. Best of all, since we were the first ones there, we got a private tour!
The farm is surprisingly compact, spread between two sides of a quiet street near Comalcalco. As we toured, our guide showed us how they grow the cacao trees from seed or clone and grow this delicious crop. It was also interesting to see that many OTHER fruits and plants are grown next to the cacao. Mangos, cinnamon, coffee, and others are grown alongside to help provide shade, and according to our guide they even help affect the flavor of the beans! Watching him crack open a pod, we each pulled a raw bean off and to our surprise the flavor before processing is quite mild. Only after several days of fermentation does the bean begin to truly smell and taste like the chocolate we know and love!
After a demonstration (thanks Liz @Eat See RV for the muscle!) of how chocolate was made before modern machinery, it was onto the samples! We tried so many different kinds and varying levels of sweetness. What's your favorite?
Our thanks to the team at Hacienda Cacaotera Jesus Maria y Chocolates for the tour and an overnight stay at your beautiful farm!
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[@NewstateNomads]

Come along on our journey and discover more amazing places to explore! Subscribe now! 🚨 Remember to click the bell for notifications when we post new adventures! 🚨 kzbin.info

[@EllaMcKendrick]

Oh wow, a night at a chocolate farm?! Sounds like heaven! The tour sounds pretty reasonable. Good value for what you get. I never knew mosquitos pollenated anything. Makes me hate them slightly less as they bring us chocolate, haha. I loved watching him make the chocolate in front of you. Sooo hungry now! It does look like hard work though crushing them down in that machine by winding it up. Not a bad spot to be quarantining on that beach!

[@NewstateNomads]

I still really dislike mosquitoes, lol. I am thankful for the help in chocolate deliciousness, but it stops there! 😂 Thanks for watching, glad you're along for the journey! -Howard

[@kylepifer9509]

I’m addicted to your channels can’t wait till Monday 👍🏻👏🏻. Between you two being in Mexico it’s so interesting 🤔. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🤩

[@NewstateNomads]

Kyle, love hearing that, we're so glad you're along for the journey here in Mexico! It's been a lot of fun traveling with @eatseerv and we watch each others videos every week! 👍 -Howard

[@luyzqint3760]

You guys are so lucky to find those RV parks with those great views.✌️

[@NewstateNomads]

Lots and lots of research, and equal parts luck, lol. This RV park has been great, even if there isn't a pandemic going on! 😂 Thanks for watching! -Howard

[@marty6055]

Thanks for taking me along. I don't eat much and am not a backseat driver.

[@NewstateNomads]

Haha, Marty you are welcome anytime on our journeys! You should add that you don't take up much space in the backseat, either. 😂 Jokes aside, we're glad you're here! -Howard

[@Americandreamsurvivor]

That's amazing thanks for sharing new friend here click 👍

[@bobstellmaker3816]

What a beautiful Place I would never leave

[@NewstateNomads]

Bob, if you mean where we've been quarantining for two months, we haven't left yet! 😂 This has been an incredible place to ride out the stay at home orders, and you're right, it's beautiful! Glad you're along for the journey. 👍 -Howard

[@BonnysOneStepAhead]

Always love to watch your video, the way you both enjoy explain explore...just love it....love your caravan....the chocolate plantation is such an amazing experience

[@NewstateNomads]

Yes, if you get the chance to visit one, it's interesting and delicious! Appreciate the compliments and glad you enjoyed it! -Howard

[@slightlyoffthebeatentrack7322]

Wow seeing the the chocolate farm and the whole process is fascinating! And the fact that mosquito's so have a use! Wonderful that this family have such a beautiful and thriving business. You guys are so lucky to have your motor home at this time while having to live and travel through Corona.

[@NewstateNomads]

I asked the guy twice (since our Spanish is less than bueno, lol), and he confirmed about the mosquitoes! It's not lost on us that we are fortunate to live and travel in an RV, particularly during the pandemic. ❤️ Cheers to future travels for all of us! -Howard

[@TravelKiwi]

Great video!!! Love your Energy in this video!! :) look forward to more!!!

[@NewstateNomads]

Thank you so much!! We're excited to continue exploring Mexico (hopefully can hit the road again in a few days).

[@WhisperWanderlust]

It seems like a fabulous experience that I would definitely love to try. I've never really seen the cocoa tree in reality. The way chocolate is made is interesting to watch. A sweet tour, literally.

[@NewstateNomads]

We had no idea where chocolate came from, and how unique it tastes straight from the tree! Thanks for watching, glad you're along for the journey. -Howard

[@exploreaswego]

OMG you guys are too cute! I love all the voice over and the energy in your videos. Already loving this first video watching. Graphics - awesome. Clarity - awesome. You two - awesome. Definitely subscribed.

[@NewstateNomads]

Wow, thanks so much for the compliments and subscribing! So glad you're enjoying the episodes so far. How is Bali treating you during the lockdown? We can't even buy alcohol here right now on Mexico! Glad you're along for the journey. 👍 -Howard

[@thefocustravel6107]

That chocolate looks very delicious. Great video!

[@NewstateNomads]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching! -Howard

[@IamaDutch-Kiwi]

Cut from the tree 🧐, mosquitos pollinate 🤔 , all new information. At 2:56 my jaw dropped 😮open. Wow! And then 3:41 the cinnamon tree. Oh dear. I am a foodie, the kitchen is my haven. Now I want to visit there but I know it won't happen. Hubby not that adventurous to go that part of the globe at all even though he is the chocoholic 🙃. So thank you for making my visit here possible. Keep safe, the fresh air will be your saving grace. ❤️❤️❤️❤️👋🌷

[@NewstateNomads]

We were just as surprised as you! As people who eat a lot of chocolate, didn't really know much about where it came from. 🤦‍♂️😂 Glad you're along for the journey, we'll keep making episodes if you keep watching! 👍❤️ -Howard

[@IamaDutch-Kiwi]

@@NewstateNomads NO worries, I'm on your list! 😂👍🌷🇳🇱🇳🇿

[@arcatt5]

Love watching you guys! We're living vicariously through you two! Ordering our Winnebago Navion 24D soon.

[@NewstateNomads]

That's awesome news, congrats! Let us know if you have any questions before or once you order! What color scheme are you thinking for yours? Also, I presume you've watched our walk-through video of our home on wheels, right? kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJSwnWdppLieapI So glad you're on the journey with us! 👍 -Howard

[@ricks5437]

Yep! We’ve seen them all! Talking to La Mesa RV now.

[@NewstateNomads]

Tell 'em we sent you! Had nothing but great experiences with several of their locations. So excited for your future travels! Howard & Katelyn

[@tarac5137]

The chocolate looks so yummy!

[@NewstateNomads]

It was delicious. We're ALMOST run out of our chocolate purchases from that day, gotta ration during all this! Thanks for watching. 👍 -Howard

[@mikasalife]

Here from r/ supporting the community. Amazing to see cocoa plants like that. Stay connected :)

[@DreamyTravelStory]

Chocolate for breakfast is the beeest! The process of cacao to chocolate is so fascinating, here where we are, in Guatemala, it's a big chocolate country. Cool that they can clone the. cacao they like, we didn't know that. The spicy chocolate is always fun and the dark one is Giorgio's favourite. Very interesting video!

[@NewstateNomads]

Wow, I didn't realize you were in Guatemala right now?! From your videos, I thought you were in the UK. We could (and do) eat chocolate pretty much all the time! 😂 Thanks for watching. 👍 -Howard

[@ScottHowarthFilms]

Very jealous that you guys are getting to travel and explore during the virus pandemic! We are completely shut down here no flights in or out 😩 I've learnt so much about chocolate from this, your voice over style along with vlogging is super formative. I love it!!

[@NewstateNomads]

Thanks for watching, and the compliments, Scott! Unfortunately we were under the same restrictions! This video was from March before the national "stay at home" order here in Mexico. They're just now lifting some of the restrictions, so I hope we can resume exploring soon! Hope you're staying safe, too. 👍 -Howard

[@jessieonajourney]

I did something similar in St. Lucia. Very cool!

[@NewstateNomads]

That's awesome! People have indicated there are other tours in Panama and elsewhere in Central and South America, but that's the first I've heard of one in St Lucia! Thanks for watching, and glad you enjoyed the episode, Jessie! -Howard

[@joansturgeon3054]

Really good video!

[@NewstateNomads]

Thank you so much Joan! Seeing the chocolate farm was a highlight of our trip 😊🍫

[@invisibletravellers6271]

Did the guide crack the beans with his bare hands? Such strong hands! The beach at the end is nice. The sand looks white

[@NewstateNomads]

Thanks for watching, and no he cracked the shell against the metal bin holding all the fruit! That would be incredible if he could just do that with his bare hands! Glad you enjoyed our adventure, and that you're along for the journey. 👍 -Howard

[@ElderMillennialDigitalNomads]

So awesome to see all the steps to get chocolate - the grounds/jungle looked amazing! I love the question do we go back or stay - we also picked stay too :) Nice isolation destination choice :)

[@ericvaneck4296]

Hope you all are staying safe down there because it sounds like things are getting worst in South America. I bet the chocolate didn’t last long, but you could always jump in to your car and go back too.

[@NewstateNomads]

Thanks, Eric, always good to hear from you! Our Quarantine spot here in Mexico is in a rural island area, very few cases. We still use masks when buying groceries and try to practice good hygiene. Now, that chocolate has somehow lasted us 2 months! I think a refill trip is in order on the way back... 👍 Hope all is well in your area up North! -Howard

[@GoTravelOnTheCheap]

April would be down for some chocolate for breakfast! It's neat how they grow on the tree like that. Mosquitoes do have a purpose, what do ya know?! We want to try cinnamon straight from the tree! Reminds us of being in the jungle at Coba. Good for y'all for staying--hopefully you haven't regretted that decision...we wish we were "stuck" somewhere else right now! April is not a big fan of dark chocolate, but she is game to try this. WAY nice camping spot! How much a night, if you don't mind my asking?

[@kelanth462]

Just so you know, the tag on the back of Kaitlin's jumper is triggering my OCD. LOL y'all stay safe

[@NewstateNomads]

🤣🤣🤣 ME TOO! The whole time I was editing it, I wished that I had a magic Photoshop tool to fix it. It was driving me nuts, you aren't alone. Haha! Thanks, as always, for watching! ❤️ -Katelyn

[@HiralPandya]

I am a mad chocolate lover, this place is so so interesting. And oh my gosh, your quarantine spot is everyone's dream. So are you guys still at that place or made a move?

[@NewstateNomads]

Thanks for watching, Hiral, and yes this spot is pretty ideal! We're still here now, hopefully we can resume traveling in the next few days once the stay at home order is lifted. 🤞 Glad you're along for the journey! 👍 -Howard

[@suekelderhouse5160]

Hi! Just "found" you and subscribed to your channel. What island did you end up quarantining on? Fun video!

[@NewstateNomads]

Hi Sue, so glad you found us! We quarantined on Isla Aguada, a small fishing island in Campeche state (near the start of the Yucatan peninsula). Happiest accident, because we made great friends there and left with another dog, Scout! So glad you're along for the journey. 👍❤️ -Howard

[@moretoknowshow1887]

Loving these travel vlogs. Just curious, what type of gear do you shoot with?

[@NewstateNomads]

Thanks so much, and we keep meaning to make an equipment list (we do get the question fairly often). It's mainly our Pixel 4 phones, a DJI Osmo Pocket, and occasionally a GoPro Hero 7 Black. The drone is a DJI Mavic 2 Zoom. 👍

[@DanielPerez-oc8qs]

Not nice from lady when said he's talking shit! He was saying that she was so strong. Nice vid guys.