Chocolate Adventures in London

When Lives and Chocolate Are Intertwined

Last week, quite unexpectedly, something truly special happened. My dear friend Susana Cárdenas was visiting from Ecuador.

I had the absolute pleasure of being invited to taste her Cardenas Chocolate 2025 harvest, hosted by the wonderful Chantal Coady OBE , The Chocolate Detective – a true gathering of chocolate royalty!

When the moment arrived to taste her pure 72%, all I could say was wow – it was simply incredible. Straight away, I noticed how the texture had changed, with a much smoother mouthfeel and more delicate flavour notes.

As I tasted it, I was transported back to the moment I first tried her cacao beans fresh from the pod on the family farm two years ago. I remember thinking then how special it was, knowing I had experienced chocolate made from these very cacao trees – past, present, and now future.

The flavours were so delicate, yet wonderfully familiar. Taste and flavour have that magical ability to take you back to a moment in time, just like a favourite perfume.

Susana shared that she has started with a new, small producer to craft her bars – and I could tell immediately. That small change in production has made such a difference. The bars are now even smoother, proving how the tiniest tweaks can truly elevate the chocolate experience.

The wonderful Chantel Coady who allowed us into her home workspace for the tasting event

Myself with Susanna Cardenas

The 72 % With berries