Dear discerning traveller,
If you were a connoisseur of the world’s finest single malt whisky, one day you’d be sure to make the pilgrimage to Scotland to partake of a dram. Likewise, if your taste lay in Bordeaux’s finest reds, you could not resist a visit to the châteaux on the left bank of the Garonne.
Such trips, however, would seem commonplace in comparison to the exclusive voyage of discovery that I am about to invite you to join.
You see we, at Brown + Hudson, have planned and orchestrated a once in a lifetime journey that will take you to the very spot where the first chocolate was produced over 5,300 years ago.
Moreover, in so doing, you will discover the oldest and rarest cocoa known to man - and see how it is now being conserved so we and future generations can enjoy its unique, exotic flavours
Meet the makers of the world’s most coveted - and expensive – chocolate
But what makes this expedition truly exceptional is the fact that our partners are the founders of To’ak - the world’s most exquisite chocolate.
And, if you go on this journey, you will be their guest as they share with you the secrets of how to craft the most coveted chocolate on earth. And why connoisseurs are happy to pay over $500 for 50 grams of the heavenly concoction.
While it will be bliss for your taste buds, we’ve made sure that this adventure will excite all your senses of touch, sight and sound.
En route, you’ll take breathtaking helicopter flights and expeditions through wild, spectacular scenery where we’ve arranged for you to meet intrepid archaeologists and campaigning conservationists who’ll tell tales to fire your imagination.
We have also sought out the finest restaurants and best local chefs so you can enjoy the most imaginative cuisine this beautiful and bounteous country can offer. And we’ve ensured you travel in supreme comfort and style, be it in the World Heritage-listed capital city of Quito, your Andean mountain hideaway or Ecuador’s most chic beach resort, Las Tanusas.
Here is just a glimpse of the adventure that lies ahead
Your adventure begins at the luxury boutique hotel, Illa Experience in Quito - which Time magazine listed amongst the World’s 100 Greatest Places. You’ll be wined and dined and we’ve also arranged visits to the city’s vibrant markets in the company of culinary genius Carlos Gallardo before enjoying a private masterclass at his cutting-edge food laboratory. You’ll also have exclusive access to some of the city’s most splendid historic buildings, where we have arranged private dinners and, not least, a special tasting of To’ak chocolate.
Next you’ll be flown by private jet to the Andean cloudforests of southern Ecuador – to the very place ancient Amazonian tribes first harvested cacao over 5,000 years ago. Guiding you on your quest will be an expert archaeologist who will share his insights into the world’s oldest known cacao-consuming culture. And we’ve brought in one of the country’s leading ornithologists, and a botanist, to help you search out the forest’s jewel-like birds and orchids.
You’ll then take a private plane to the Pacific coast and Ecuador’s most exclusive ocean retreat, Las Tanusas. Your host will be chef Rodrigo Pacheco, star of the Netflix hit show The Final Table. When not being pampered in the spa or spotting humpback whales off shore, you’ll be foraging with Rodrigo and sampling his award-winning cuisine in the most breathtaking of settings.
A beach pick-up in helicopters will then take you to Piedra de Plata, one of the last valleys on earth where you can still find old-growth nacional cacao trees. Here on their plantation you will be guided by To’ak co-founder Carl Schweizer, who will explain how the magical qualities of terroir and climate determine the flavour profile of each year’s chocolate vintage.
Continue by helicopter on a spectacular flight along the coast to Jama-Coaque Forest Preserve created over a decade ago by fellow To’ak co-founder Jerry Toth. Today, this forest preserve is where Jerry, alongside a team of scientists and conservationists, is working on preserving nacional cacao for posterity. He will personally show you around the experimental cacao plantations and the rainforest that surrounds them. And you’ll get a chance to spend some time in the thatched bamboo house where he first started making chocolate by hand back in 2007.
From June 22nd to 29th 12 people can join our journey to the chocolate lover’s holy grail
We expect a great deal of interest. However, to keep the experience as intimate and exclusive as possible, the journey is limited to just 12 people.
In which case, may I urge you to click here now to find out more details and make your reservation.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make the pilgrimage to the chocolate lovers’ holy grail - and to immerse yourself in an expertly orchestrated exploration of the sights, sounds and tastes of this beautiful country.
I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely,
Philippe Brown
Founder
P.S. Why not use this journey as a springboard to explore South America in greater depth? In Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands offers extraordinary encounters with its magical wildlife. Perhaps you’d like to discover the heritage of the Incas in Peru? Or explore the rich cultures and landscapes of Colombia? Whatever your interest, just tell us when you make your reservation, and we’ll start tailoring a bespoke experience for you.
All the best,
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