Chocolate and cacao in Cusco: workshops, chuncho cacao and what to buy

Peru is one of cacao's countries of origin and a recognised producer of fine-flavour cacao. The Cusco region contributes from the warm valleys of La Convención province, where growers cultivate, among others, chuncho cacao, a native variety prized for its aroma. In the city, chocolate has become an experience in itself: workshops where you make your own bar, shops selling origin chocolate and traditional cacao drinks. It's also a family favourite and a great rainy-day activity.

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Cusco cacao

• La Convención, with Quillabamba as capital, is the region's main cacao area, in lower valleys with a tropical climate.
• Chuncho cacao is a native variety from this area, with small beans and a complex aromatic profile; many growers cultivate it in small plots alongside coffee and fruit.
• Cooperatives and smallholders have focused on quality and careful fermentation and drying, key to the final flavour.

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Chocolate workshops

Bean-to-bar workshops are very popular in Cusco. In about two hours they usually include:

1. An explanation of the cacao tree, harvest, fermentation and drying.
2. Roasting and shelling beans, and traditional grinding on a stone or in a mortar.
3. Making pre-Hispanic and colonial-style cacao drinks, with spices or chilli.
4. Making your own bar or bonbons with ingredients of your choice to take home.

They suit all ages and are a good option during acclimatisation days or on a rainy afternoon.

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What to try

• Hot chocolate: in markets and cafés often made with milk, cinnamon and cloves; at Christmas it's traditional at community chocolatadas.
• Cacao husk tea: light, aromatic and faintly chocolatey, offered at many workshops and shops.
• Cacao nibs: roasted bean pieces to add to yogurt or desserts.
• Chocolates with Andean and Amazonian ingredients: quinoa, kiwicha, golden berry, Maras salt, coffee or fruit.

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Choosing chocolate to take home

• Read the label: good dark chocolate has few ingredients (cacao, cocoa butter, sugar) and a clear cacao percentage.
• Look for origin: region, cooperative or variety (e.g. chuncho or La Convención).
• Be wary of chocolate with many additives or vegetable fats other than cocoa butter.
• Chocolate travels well if kept from heat; Cusco's cool climate helps, but in Lima or the jungle it may melt.

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A little history

Cacao has a long history in the upper Amazon, and archaeological studies suggest it was first domesticated in the upper Amazon basin, in what is now Ecuador and northern Peru, thousands of years ago. Much later, in colonial times, chocolate became a popular drink among elites. Today Peruvian cacao is exported worldwide and wins international awards for quality.

Chocolate at altitude

Hot chocolate is a comforting drink on Cusco's cold nights. If you're acclimatising, though, avoid very heavy food at night and drink plenty of water.

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Cacao drinks and desserts

Beyond bars, cacao turns up in many forms in Cusco. Look for traditional hot chocolate, thicker than in Europe and sometimes spiced with cinnamon or clove; cacao husk tea, mild and aromatic, ideal in the afternoon; and desserts pairing cacao with Andean and Amazonian fruit such as goldenberry, lúcuma or passion fruit. At Christmas the chocolatada is a tradition, with hot chocolate and panettone shared in neighbourhoods and communities.

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How to choose a good workshop

• Small groups: you really take part in each step, from roasting beans to moulding your own bar.
• Origin story: a good workshop explains where the cacao comes from and how it works with growers.
• Realistic length: a full workshop usually lasts about 2 hours; very short ones are more of a tasting.
• What you take home: check whether your bars are included and whether you can choose ingredients.
• Language: make sure it runs in a language you understand well.

It's a perfect rainy-day activity or something for your arrival afternoon, when you should take it easy because of the altitude.

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Notice: This guide shares advice and recommendations based on research and local experience. Prices, opening hours and rules may change: always check with official sources and operators. Cusco Tips is not responsible for third-party services, bookings or decisions made using these guides; some links are affiliate links (see our affiliate policy).