Chocolate Artesanal da Amazônia - História Da Cruz Chocolates

Summary

Flávio Cruz and his family turned their long-held dream into a reality by creating a small, family-run business dedicated to producing artisanal chocolate. From growing cacao and other crops on their farm in Moju to producing a healthy, environmentally-conscious chocolate, they aim to create a product that's both delicious and beneficial to health. Through hard work and a commitment to quality, the family has turned their passion for chocolate into a thriving venture. With personal involvement from all family members, including learning and perfecting the chocolate-making process, they envision a bright future for their business.

Takeaways

• 😀 Flávio Cruz introduces his family and their business, a chocolate production company that started from a long-held dream.
• 😀 The family owns a small farm in Moju, where they grow cocoa, açaí, and other crops.
• 😀 The family decided to vertically integrate their cocoa production and create a differentiated chocolate product.
• 😀 Their main goal is to produce chocolate that is not only delicious but also healthy and beneficial to health.
• 😀 The chocolate is fully artisanal, with a focus on environmentally sustainable practices.
• 😀 They use only cocoa and sugar, avoiding any other additives, ensuring a natural product.
• 😀 The family is committed to maintaining these values, as they know there's a market for products with such principles.
• 😀 Flávio recalls the early days of experimenting with chocolate at home, involving the whole family in the process.
• 😀 As the business grew, Flávio invested in machinery and now operates a small factory.
• 😀 Pedro, the son, shares how he used to help make chocolate by hand and how the process has evolved into a more professional operation today.
• 😀 Pedro reflects on the journey from making rudimentary chocolate to producing refined products and his vision for the future of the business.

Q & A

What inspired Flávio Cruz and his family to start their chocolate business?

Flávio Cruz and his family were motivated by a long-held dream that had been put on hold. They decided to bring their dream to life by starting a family business focused on producing high-quality, differentiated chocolate.

What are some of the main ingredients in their chocolate?

The chocolate is made using only two main ingredients: cocoa and sugar. The family is committed to maintaining a simple, healthy product with no additional additives.

What types of farming do they practice on their property?

They are farmers growing cacao, acai, and other crops on their small property in Moju.

What makes their chocolate different from other chocolates on the market?

The family focuses on producing artisanal, healthy chocolate that is not only a delicious treat but also beneficial for health. They follow environmentally conscious practices and ensure that every step, from planting to fermentation, contributes to the quality of their product.

What kind of process does their chocolate go through to be made?

Their chocolate is made through a careful and detailed process. It involves planting, fermenting, and following specific methodologies at each stage. The process takes about 15 days to create a single chocolate bar.

What was the early experience of making chocolate like for the family?

In the early days, the family would spend entire days together, using traditional methods to make chocolate. They would grind cocoa beans using a pilão (mortar and pestle), and the process was quite labor-intensive, often resulting in a product closer to a chocolate-based rapadura (a sweet, firm treat) rather than a smooth chocolate bar.

What did Flávio Cruz's family want to achieve with their chocolate business?

They wanted to create a product that combined pleasure and health benefits, aiming to offer a chocolate that is not only enjoyable to eat but also contributes positively to health.

How did Flávio Cruz's family learn to make chocolate?

Flávio Cruz studied extensively to understand how to make high-quality chocolate. The family also invested in machinery to improve their process, transitioning from making chocolate at home to operating a small factory.

How did Pedro, Flávio’s son, feel about the chocolate-making process?

Pedro recalls the fun and laborious process of making chocolate with his family. While it was more of a playful activity at first, he now sees it as a serious business and has developed a strong interest in working with chocolate, even seeing a bright future for the company.

How does the family involve their children in the business?

The children, including Pedro, Vitória, and Samuel, are actively involved in the business. They participate in making the chocolate, attending fairs, and contributing to the company’s development.