eric: he says that, 20 years ago, 25 years ago, it was easier as planting, uh, so. anthony: right. and he was making much more money. and then he didn t plant soybeans any longer. and then the coffee production went down. so therefore, he had a financial, uh, struggle for a while. and now, with the cacao trees that they are planting, he has no more stress and he s very happy himself. a place designed to help you be your best. welcome to westin. where you re given a choice not just to get up but to rise.
we make it to the other side reasonably dry. beer? the maranon canyon is home to a wide range of species, including, and most interesting to us, a strain of cacao previously thought to be almost extinct. a few years ago, the valley s cacao trees were genetically tested at a usda lab and proven to have identical dna to one of the rarest forms of cacao in the world, this stuff, the real deal, pure nacionale. don fortunato is our cacao connection, a farmer whose family has been working these mountains for over 40 years. chris: so they re just absolutely beautiful when they start out. absolutely beautiful. anthony: really kooky looking pods as they just come right off the trunk of the tree. chris: this anthony: they sorta look like somebody, you know, glued them to the side of a tree, you know. this is a once a year crop?
how s life for the locals? [ don speaking spanish ] eric: he says that, 20 years ago, 25 years ago, it was easier for him. he was planting, uh, soybeans. anthony: right. eric: and coffee. and he was making much more money. and then he didn t plant soybeans any longer. and then the coffee production went down. so therefore, he had a financial, uh, struggle for a while. and now, with the cacao trees that they are planting, he has no more stress and he s very happy himself. we test all of our paints and stains for months. or even years. because you deserve paint that s done right. that s proudly particular. benjamin moore. the standard for paint professionals. only at local paint and hardware stores.
oh. anthony: you gotta go down and then up just right. we make it to the other side reasonably dry. beer? the maranon canyon is home to a wide range of species, including, and most interesting to us, a strain of cacao previously thought to be almost extinct. a few years ago, the valley s cacao trees were genetically tested at a usda lab and proven to have identical dna to one of the rarest forms of cacao in the world, this stuff, the real deal, pure nacionale. don fortunato is our cacao connection, a farmer whose family has been working these mountains for over 40 years.
to be many around for the taking, this preparation served with a cacao sauce. oh, that s good. all of this food is delicious. so, chocolate, particularly our chocolate, it s a luxury food item, right? eric: yes. anthony: this is an area that s abundant with coffee, chocolate, fruit. how s life for the locals? [ don speaking spanish ] eric: he says that, 20 years ago, 25 years ago, it was easier for him. he was planting, uh, soybeans. anthony: right. eric: and coffee. and he was making much more money. and then he didn t plant soybeans any longer. and then the coffee production went down. so therefore, he had a financial, uh, struggle for a while. and now, with the cacao trees that they are planting, he has no more stress and he s very happy himself. okay, guys, the bus is down, but we ve got a spot!