Grenada, often referred to as the “Spice Island,” is a tropical haven known for its rich history in spice and cocoa production. While the island’s nutmeg exports are famous, Grenada’s chocolate has carved out its own special place in the hearts of locals and travelers alike.
From chocolate-making tours to spa treatments infused with cocoa, Grenada offers a wide array of experiences that showcase the island’s sweet side. Let’s take a look at the 21 amazing ways you can experience Grenada through chocolate, each offering a deeper dive into the island’s rich chocolate culture.
1. Visit The Grenada Chocolate Company
Any chocolate lover must pay a visit to the Grenada Chocolate Company, which Mott Green founded in 1999. Mott Green’s vision was revolutionary, keeping cocoa production local and empowering small-scale farmers to create premium-quality chocolate.
His dedication to sustainable practices and organic farming has allowed the company to oversee over 200 acres of organic cocoa farms. With vibrant, colorful packaging and unique flavors like Salty-Licious (which uses Caribbean sea salt), the factory is a must-see when exploring Grenada. While the factory doesn’t offer formal tours, you can visit the factory outlet, view videos about the production process, and purchase an array of delicious treats.
2. Make Chocolate at Tri Island
Tri Island Chocolate offers one of the island’s most interactive chocolate experiences. Under the guidance of Aaron Sylvester and his team, you can craft your own personalized chocolate bar.
During the workshop, you’ll select from an assortment of local spices and ingredients—such as banana chips, sprinkles, and sea salt—and learn the intricate process of chocolate-making, from roasting the beans to tempering the chocolate. At the end, you leave with a unique, handcrafted bar of Grenadian chocolate, a sweet reminder of your trip.
3. Explore Street Food Wednesday at Dodgy Dock
Every Wednesday evening, Dodgy Dock, located at the True Blue Bay Boutique Resort, hosts Street Food Wednesday, a vibrant gathering that combines local street food with Grenadian chocolate. This weekly event is a celebration of Caribbean culture, referred to as “liming,” where locals and tourists come together to share food, drink, and music.
Several chocolate companies, including House of Chocolate, set up stalls where you can purchase chocolate treats or sample dishes infused with cocoa, such as sticky ribs coated in a rich chocolate sauce or decadent chocolate desserts.
4. Join a Spice Foodie Tour
The Spice Foodie Tour offers an immersive journey through Grenada’s culinary heritage. Visits to cocoa farms and chocolate factories provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the production process of chocolate.
You’ll also have the chance to make your own cocoa tea, a traditional Grenadian drink made from cocoa balls, and learn about the innovative uses of cocoa in Grenadian cuisine. One of the highlights is a visit to Fruitti Moss, where you can try cocoa-infused sea moss products, a unique combination of flavors and textures.
5. Try the Chocolate Fountain at Taste D Spice
Warm hospitality and the sight of their famous chocolate fountain greet you at Taste D Spice, a smaller chocolate factory on the island.
While there, you can tour the facility, learn about their chocolate-making process, and even try your hand at making your own bar. The factory’s small size allows for a more personal experience, with plenty of opportunities to sample their chocolate and browse their range of products.
6. Indulge in Cocoa Tea
Cocoa tea is a beloved beverage in Grenada, with a history as rich as its flavor. Boiling cocoa balls, a blend of dried, roasted, and ground cocoa beans, with spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves creates this traditional drink.
The result is a comforting drink that’s a cross between hot chocolate and spiced tea. While you can find cocoa tea throughout Grenada, one special place to try it is at Hosten’s Natural Cocoa, where they specialize in making cocoa tea “balls” that you can take home to brew yourself.
7. Shop at a Cocoa Bazaar
Scattered throughout the island, cocoa bazaars offer a treasure trove of locally-made chocolate products. These lively markets are not only a place to purchase artisanal chocolates but also to discover creative uses of cocoa in Grenadian culture.
Vendors sell unique products like chocolate pasta, handmade soaps, and art made from cocoa pods. Wandering through the stalls, you’ll also find local crafts, textiles, and paintings made with cocoa nibs, giving you a full sense of how deeply intertwined cocoa is with Grenada’s identity.
8. Tour The Belmont Estate
Dating back to the 17th century, the Belmont Estate is a historic plantation that plays a significant role in Grenada’s cocoa industry. The estate offers guided tours that take you through the entire chocolate-making process, from harvesting the cocoa pods to fermenting and drying the beans.
You’ll see the original fermentary and drying house as you walk through the estate, and you’ll even have the opportunity to “walk the cocoa,” a traditional method that involves spreading out beans in the sun and walking on them to ensure even drying.
9. Harvest Cocoa Pods at Belmont Estate
At Belmont Estate, you don’t just watch the process—you can participate! During harvest season, guests can use a sickle and machete to cut ripe cocoa pods from the trees.
After harvesting, you’ll learn about the post-harvest processes and gain a deeper appreciation for the journey of cocoa from tree to chocolate.
10. Dance the Cocoa at Belmont
“Dancing the cocoa” is another fun tradition at Belmont Estate. This entails shuffling or dancing on the beans to polish them during the drying process.
Modern machinery has replaced this practice, but visitors still have the opportunity to engage with the island’s chocolate traditions through this experience. The rhythmic beat of drums accompanies this activity, making it both an entertaining and culturally enriching experience.
11. Relish a Factory Taste Test
No visit to a chocolate factory would be complete without a taste test! After your tour at Belmont Estate, indulge in a tasting session featuring a variety of chocolate types with varying cocoa intensities.
Chefs are on hand to guide you through the experience, teaching you how to identify different flavors and spices. By the end of the session, you’ll feel like a chocolate connoisseur, able to distinguish the subtle differences between the chocolate bars.
12. Visit House of Chocolate
In the heart of Saint George’s, House of Chocolate is a cozy café, museum, and shop all in one. It’s a perfect spot to relax with a cup of cocoa tea or hot chocolate while learning about the island’s rich history of cocoa production.
Visitors can witness the transformation of cocoa beans into delicious chocolate bars using traditional techniques during free chocolate-making demonstrations in the museum section.
13. Have a Cocoa Massage at Blue Haven Spa
Chocolate isn’t just for eating in Grenada—it’s also a part of the island’s wellness offerings. At Blue Haven Spa in the True Blue Bay Resort, you can indulge in a luxurious cocoa butter massage.
Extracted from cocoa beans, cocoa butter’s moisturizing properties make it a popular ingredient in skincare. The spa also offers treatments that use pure chocolate and local spices to enhance relaxation.
14. Stock Up on Chocolate Skincare
Grenada’s natural skincare industry has embraced the use of cocoa in a variety of products. OMI Grenada, a local brand, creates a range of cocoa-based skincare items, including OMI Chocolate Mousse, a luxurious moisturizer.
Founder Sheba Augustine also offers workshops where you can learn how to make your own skincare products using natural ingredients like cocoa, ensuring you leave the island with soft, nourished skin.
15. Stay at True Blue Bay Boutique Resort
If you’re looking for the ideal place to stay while immersing yourself in Grenada’s chocolate culture, True Blue Bay Boutique Resort is an excellent choice.
The resort provides comfortable accommodations and hosts many festival events during the Grenada Chocolate Festival in May. With its on-site spa, dive shop, yoga studio, and multiple pools, True Blue Bay provides a perfect blend of relaxation and adventure.
16. Sleep in a Cocoa Pod Suite
For a chocolate-themed accommodation experience, book a Cocoa Pod Suite at True Blue Bay Resort. These spacious two-story suites are ideal for couples or small families, offering modern amenities and stunning views of the surrounding tropical gardens and ocean.
With the luxurious Grand Anse Beach nearby and close proximity to Maurice Bishop International Airport, it’s a perfect base for exploring Grenada.
17. Walk the Cocoa at Belmont Estate
As part of the drying process, walking the cocoa is a unique and traditional experience where you can literally walk barefoot over trays of cocoa beans to ensure they dry evenly.
For centuries, Grenada has employed this simple method, which plays a crucial role in the tree-to-bar chocolate process at Belmont Estate.
18. Dance the Cocoa at Belmont
Continuing with the cocoa theme, dancing the cocoa is a tradition where people shuffle their feet over the beans to polish them.
This lively practice, set to the beat of local drums, is a delightful way to interact with Grenada chocolate-making traditions and provides a wonderful opportunity for cultural immersion.
19. Enjoy Fruitti Moss Products
Grenada’s Fruitti Moss company specializes in combining sea moss with other local ingredients, including cocoa. These innovative products are not only delicious but also nutritious, providing health benefits from both the sea moss and cocoa.
A visit to Fruitti Moss offers a unique twist on the island’s chocolate culture, merging traditional and modern culinary practices.
20. Make Your Own Chocolate
Several chocolate factories on the island, like Tri Island Chocolate, offer workshops where you can make your own chocolate from scratch.
From learning how to roast the beans to tempering and molding the final product, this hands-on experience allows you to create a unique chocolate bar that reflects your personal tastes and preferences.
21. Attend the Grenada Chocolate Festival
The Grenada Chocolate Festival, held every May, is the ultimate celebration of all things chocolate. This week-long festival features workshops, tastings, and activities that bring together local chocolatiers, farmers, and visitors.
Whether you’re learning how to make chocolate, participating in a chocolate yoga session, or enjoying a cocoa-infused meal, the festival offers an unforgettable way to experience the island’s vibrant chocolate culture.
Conclusion
From tree-to-bar tours to chocolate-infused spa treatments, Grenada offers a plethora of opportunities to experience its rich and sweet cocoa heritage.
Whether you’re crafting your own chocolate, sampling cocoa tea, or wandering through the colorful stalls of a cocoa bazaar, Grenada provides a unique and immersive way to explore the world of chocolate in the Caribbean. Indulge your senses and let Grenada’s chocolate culture take you on a delicious journey through its history, traditions, and flavors.
