The Ibero-American Academy of Gastronomy awarded the recognition to Pichincha, with which the province wants to be the tourist destination of excellence for chocolate lovers.
Ecuadorian chocolate at a fair in the Middle of the World, on February 26, 2024.
Pichincha becomes the Ibero-American Capital of Chocolate, after captivating the palates of Europeans at the International Tourism Fair (Fitur) in Madrid, which had Ecuador as a guest country.
With this distinction, officially awarded on February 26, 2024 by the Ibero-American Academy of Gastronomy, Pichincha wants to become the ” tourist destination par excellence” for chocolate lovers.
The objective is that visitors who love chocolate feel “motivated” to get to know this place, but, above all, to taste the chocolate from the Middle of the World, explained the prefect of Pichincha, Paola Pabón.
The Ibero-American Capital of Chocolate will even have an iconic date: February 14, Valentine’s Day.
A chocolate province
Pichincha is home to the subtropical Chocó Andean forest and many entrepreneurs have managed to establish a true chocolate industry.
“Chocó chocolate” is produced there, but cocoa that comes from many regions of Ecuador is also processed, especially the ‘fine aroma’ variety, cataloged in Europe as the best seed for making fine chocolate.
Tourism business associations have enthusiastically embraced the distinction of Ibero-American Chocolate Capital, taking advantage of it to promote their activities.
The country’s tourism sectors will have “this seal” that their offers and services emerge from “the Ibero-American Capital of Chocolate,” added the prefect.
Ecuador ranks as the fourth largest cocoa exporter in the world, an enviable position this year due to the setbacks faced by Ivory Coast and Ghana, the two largest producers worldwide.
These problems are caused by the El Niño climate phenomenon, which has caused international prices to reach record levels of almost $5,900 per ton.
