The greatest reward from the chocolate process is pleasure. It is the pleasure of seeing people transformed when they experience the magic of a piece of chocolate. Eyes droop, a deeper breath, small smile, the flush on the skin as we tap something wild and raw. It is a mystic transformation to feelings deeply honest and visceral, to moments of truth.
Curiouser and curiouser...
"When interest becomes obsession, an all-consuming passion, we say you are possessed, you “have a jumbie.” My jumbie is cacao, xoxoatl, chocolate. My father called her Cocobel – brown beauty, earth born.
In summer of 2008, I mentioned to my brother that I was going to try to make chocolate. He then offered to bring me beans from his estate in Rancho Quemado, which lies in the deep south of Trinidad. It is planted in a variety of trees including cedar, teak, mahogany, orange, coffee and cocoa. It was serendipity!"
Cocobel Chocolate is the creation of Isabel Brash, who says that she fell into chocolate like Alice falling down the rabbit hole of endless wonder and enchantment. Using single origin beans from Trinidad and Tobago, Isabel transforms cocoa beans into chocolate and creates all her flavours in the chocolate kitchen at the house which she designed and built in genteel Woodbrook, Port of Spain. Isabel is a trained architect turned chocolatier and her chocolates reflect the balance of form and function: just as delightful to look at as they are to eat! Her vision is for Trinidad and Tobago’s premium fine flavor cocoa to be enjoyed in every form right here on the island. The chocolate kitchen is to be expanded into a cocoa café.
At Cocobel, the transformation of this age-old indigenous agricultural product – cocoa – into an internationally valuable and prized commodity – chocolate – effects transformation in the producers as well as participants in the final product.
At Cocobel, we realise that chocolate has the power to seduce, satisfy and heal the heart. We believe that our chocolate made from Trinidad and Tobago beans can be among the most potent and highly regarded in all the world.
Our Farmers
Cocobel chooses quality single estate cocoa grown in Trinidad to make fine chocolate and chocolate confectionery, to delight the chocolate lover.
RANCHO QUEMADO ESTATE
Cocobel's foundation estate source, Rancho Quemado Estate is in deep South Trinidad and will always be home to Cocobel's story.
GEWAN GANGARAM
Based in Rio Claro, Trinidad, Mr Gewan Gangaram has built an international reputation for consistent high quality processing of our Trinitario cocoa beans.
LA DESEADA ESTATE
Better known as the Stollmeyer Estate, La Deseada is one of the oldest established Cocoa growing areas in Trinidad in the North of the Island.
Buena Vista estate is situated in Tamana mountain, central Trinidad and is operated by Baksh brothers Fareed and Inshan.
Cocobel’s aim therefore is to create chocolate that may be considered “food of the gods” – to give pleasure, to raise hope or lift spirits. In so doing, we believe that we are able to elevate producers, communities and our country as participants in an enchanting and purposeful chocolate adventure.