Nicola's Chocolate

Nicola's Chocolate Micro-batch bean-to-bar chocolate handcrafted in a tiny chocolate factory in Exeter.

20/09/2026

Colombia Chocolate Diary 🇨🇴 - Final Day

We started the morning exploring the local markets, looking for artisan and Indigenous-made gifts to bring home, before heading back to the Cacao Fest for a final few hours.

There was more tasting, of course 🍫 but the most valuable moments were the conversations. I had the chance to talk properly with people about cacao from their regions and, excitingly, start exploring how I might be able to source some of those beans for Nicola’s in the future.

Nothing decided yet, but lots of contacts, possibilities and ideas to bring home with me.

Our final organised event was a chocolate tasting, pairing chocolates with drinks and locally made cheeses, before heading out into Popayán for our final night.

It was 'Día del Amor y la Amistad' (day of love and friendship) ❤️ so there was live music in the square, and we finished the night in a brilliant little bar playing old vinyl VERY loudly, with a Colombian beer in hand 🍺

A perfect way to finish an extraordinary few days.

A huge thank you to ProColombia and everyone here in Cauca who has welcomed us, shared their knowledge and their stories, and made this experience possible. ❤️

Thank you, Colombia. I can't wait to return!

19/09/2026

Last day reflections.

Not as eloquent as usual 🙃 there was a lot of background noise.

In short, there are a lot of dedicated people here in Cauca, growing and farming cacao and creating associations to promote safe and sustainable farming and build a better future for the indigenous communities.

And they have an incredible product, which hopefully I can bring some for you to experience soon!

19/09/2026

Colombia Chocolate Diary 🇨🇴 Day 3

Today was all about the people behind the cacao.

We spent the day at the Cauca Cacao Fest, meeting farmers, growers and chocolate makers from across the region - talking, listening, asking questions and tasting a LOT of chocolate 🍫

I loved hearing people's stories. Learning about what they're growing and making, and seeing the pride they have in their work. Almost everyone I met was in the cacao business to create a better future for Colombia, for people living in rural communities, creating livelihoods that offer a more sustainable and safer alternative to coca farming.

We also popped across the road to the coffee festival and met even more fascinating people there ☕️

Cauca has this incredible richness of both coffee and cacao, and it's been wonderful being immersed in both.

My head is full of ideas, and my suitcase full of souvenirs.

Day 3, you were a good one. 🇨🇴🍫☕️

18/09/2026

Colombia Chocolate Diary 🇨🇴 - Day 2

I'm not sure how we fitted all of this into one day...

We started at Cacao Hunters, immersed in Colombian cacao - visiting their chocolate factory and bean storage, tasting our way through both cacao beans and finished chocolate, and learning about the differences between cacao coming from different regions of Colombia.

Then we experienced a specially created lunch menu where every course (and the drinks) incorporated cacao or chocolate... obviously my kinda lunch!

We also got to taste chocolate made here in Popayán by David from Provinzzia Chocolate, before spending the afternoon exploring the historic city - markets, churches, music in the streets and lots of walking.

We've had a police es**rt all day, which I have to say is a first for me 😳

We climbed up above the city just in time for sunset and were rewarded with the most incredible view across Popayán and the surrounding mountains.

Exhausted, full, and buzzing.

One thing I'm keen to dive further into is how difficult it is to talk about “Colombian cacao” as though it's one thing. The diversity we're tasting here is enormous.

More tomorrow? Si, si por favour 😍

16/09/2026

Colombia diary 🇨🇴 Day 1

Well… I finally made it to Popayán, after quite the journey!

Exeter - London - Bogotá - Cali, followed by a three-hour drive through the mountains because volcanic ash has closed Popayán airport 🌋

And there was no time for a nap when we arrived...

Clips as follows:

1. Boarding the plane at Heathrow
2. I love following the journey on the in-flight map
3. In a queue to leave Cali airport
4. My travel companions, including Jacques from
5. Massive trucks mostly filled with sugarcane, and the occasional horse and cart
6. Popayán "The White City", has a very nice vibe
7. A fantastic restaurant for our first traditional Colombian meal
8. A visit to La Casa del Té for refreshments and meetings
9. My lunch - fried tilapia 😋
10. Meeting the wonderful president of the chamber of commerce for Cauca, who was so welcoming and bestowed us with gifts
11. One of said gifts, a "four t***y bag" because of it's shape of course 🤣 made locally

In my hotel now feeling slightly delirious but very excited to be here!

15/09/2026

Just killing time until I begin my mega journey to Colombia!

🚆 3hrs Exeter to Paddington
🚆 0.5hrs Paddington to Heathrow
✈️ 11hrs Heathrow to Bogota
🥱 4hr layover
✈️ 1hr Bogota to Cali
🚗 3hr drive Cali to Popayán

The things we do for fun/work/living a rich and fulfilled life...

Have you been to Colombia?

What should should I try/eat/find out while I'm there?

14/09/2026

It’s hot chocolate weather in my heart ❤️ 🍫☕️

🇨🇴 COLOMBIA GIVEAWAY + SEND-OFF SALE! 🇨🇴In one week, I’ll be on my way to Cauca, Colombia, to meet cacao growers and pro...
09/09/2026

🇨🇴 COLOMBIA GIVEAWAY + SEND-OFF SALE! 🇨🇴

In one week, I’ll be on my way to Cauca, Colombia, to meet cacao growers and producers, taste cacao and learn as much as I possibly can at origin.

It’s an incredible opportunity for my little chocolate business - and one that came along rather unexpectedly!

Procolombia are generously supporting the trip, including accommodation, local transport and part of my flights. I’ve managed to find most of the rest, but I’ve still got around £500 to find.

So rather than asking for donations, I thought I’d do what I do best…

Sell you chocolate 😂🍫

Until midnight on 14th September, there’s 15% off the online shop with code:

COLOMBIA15
........

And to celebrate my upcoming adventure, I’m giving away a bundle of the Colombian chocolates I already make: Colombia 70%, Dulse Seaweed and Masala Chai.

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:
❤️ Like this post
➕ Follow my page Nicola's Chocolate
🍫 Tag a friend who’d love to win some Colombian chocolate

No purchase necessary.

Colombia, here we come. 🇨🇴✈️🍫

Giveaway closes 11:59pm on 14 September 2026. UK entries only. Winner will be selected at random and contacted by this account. This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by Instagram.

Just back from my summer holiday… and in 10 days I’m off on another adventure! ✈️🇨🇴I’m going to Colombia 😁I’ve been invi...
06/09/2026

Just back from my summer holiday… and in 10 days I’m off on another adventure! ✈️🇨🇴

I’m going to Colombia 😁

I’ve been invited by Procolombia to join a trade mission to Cauca, in southwest Colombia, as part of Cacao Fest 2026.

I’ll be spending a few days meeting cacao growers and producers, learning about cacao production in the region, tasting (obviously), and exploring new sourcing possibilities.

I already work with cacao from Tumaco and Sierra Nevada, but this will be my first opportunity to experience Colombian cacao at origin.

I’m going with lots of questions and no particular idea of what I might discover. Hopefully there’ll be a cacao that finds its way back to Exeter and into a Nicola’s bar 🤞🏻🤞🏻

And if you followed my trip to El Salvador, you might remember my daily video diaries from cacao country. They’re coming back. ❤️

I’ll be taking you along for the adventure.

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