Subscribe To This Site
Ecuador Chocolate Factory: Gianduja--Jeff Stern's Hidden Place in Ecuador
| By Linda McFarlin
Ecuador Chocolate Factory: One of those hidden places in Ecuador that is definitely worth the effort to locate is Gianduja Chocolatier, Jeff Stern’s Ecuador chocolate factory in Quito. Our search was made easier with Jeff’s precise directions. We found Gianduja’s tiny sign next to a nondescript black metal gate on what seemed like a busy commercial street.  Turning left after walking down a long, inviting garden path, we entered a sparkling clean chocolate factory and were immediately faced with shelves displaying all kinds of dark and delicious temptations. It was hard to restrain my instant hand-to-mouth impulses, being so close within touch and taste of Jeff’s glistening specimens of chocolaty perfection. Chocolate Heaven
There were handmade truffles, bonbons, macadamia brittle, shiny gold hearts, even heart-shaped chocolate boxes full of chocolates. Heaven!! Who in his right mind could resist sneaking a nibble? I was giving the naughty thought serious consideration. But before I could grab a bite. . . or ten, Jeff wisely whisked us off to show us the inner workings of his chocolateria, leaving me unsatisfied but curious.  The main machine Jeff operates processes 30 kilos of Ecuador chocolate to keep it warm and the machine runs constantly. He uses 50% sugar/ 50% chocolate most of the time and the sugar is fondant or invert sugar, not pure white sugar. He also makes a 70% chocolate, which foreigners love, but the locals don’t like the darker, more bitter, chocolate. Ecuador Chocolate with a Temper
Jeff – “You have to temper chocolate to make it “shine and snap,” or it won’t set up properly. To temper, I first heat the chocolate to 50 degrees C., then lower the temperature to 30 degrees C. and add a piece of tempered chocolate. Ecuador Chocolate hearts  “The tempered chocolate must have no bloom, but needs the right crystals to “infect” the rest of the chocolate. I keep it moving to spread the tempering throughout the chocolate, a process which takes one-half hour.” (“Bloom” is the whitish covering that can appear on the surface of chocolate that has not been property tempered.) We watched as Jeff filled a sheet of molds under the warm chocolate stream, then vibrated it and shook out the excess. After the chocolate is firm, he adds the fillings and tops the mold with additional chocolate.  His unique chocolate pieces are decorated with textured sheets hand-applied to the tops or customized with colored cocoa butter designs. He uses edible organic cocoa butter or a colored spray to color the chocolates. Jeff masterminds the entire process, with only one woman to assist him. Much of the Ecuador chocolate that Jeff uses in his enchanting creations comes from a 600-hectare farm in Ecuador, owned by a Swiss man who mainly exports his raw beans for 70% chocolate. Jeff’s chocolate is not organic, but it is 100% Ecuadorian chocolate, with pure cocoa butter. While there is some organic chocolate in Ecuador, it is mostly exported. Molded Masterpieces
Made by Hand
Although he, too, exports the majority of his confections, Jeff also has a local Ecuadorian market, mostly molded pieces sold to restaurants, caterers, weddings, corporations or as gifts at Christmas and holidays. He can hand-make 5000 pieces a week in sheets or 2000 pieces molded, at 12 grams each. Jeff’s chocolate sells retail in the U.S. for $70-100 per lb, or $3 per piece, under the labels of several exclusive chocolatiers. Wholesale, he sells it for $25-30 per lb.  Noticing that we were all salivating in anticipation, Jeff generously let us pick a sweet morsel to sample. In the true spirit of cooperation and with the desire to taste as many flavors as we could, in between moans of pleasure, we all nibbled bites of each other’s chocolates. El Mexicano—Bonbon
with a Bite
My favorites were the raspberry-filled chocolates and the ones with coffee centers. There was also a solid white chocolate cup beautifully decorated with a multicolored striped top. I had hoped our box of chocolates would contain an “El Mexicano,” a bonbon flavored with cinnamon (canella) and chipotle chili. But alas, there wasn’t one, so it is on my list when I drop by the factory again. Gary and I bought a gold box with one-half pound but it barely survived the 2-hour trip back to Cotacachi. Even though Jeff says that his Ecuador chocolate has a one-year shelf life, by the next day, only the empty box was left to remind us of our visit to his Ecuador chocolate factory. Jeff is a graduate of L’Academie de Cuisine in the U.S. but is mostly self-taught. He studied and worked with several major chocolatiers in Washington, D.C. before opening his own factory in Quito.  He and his family live in Cumbaya, a 10-mile drive from Quito, but from his factory windows, we could see Jeff’s wife of 11 years, Maria, playing with their two children, ages 2 and 4. The house Maria grew up in is conveniently located right behind the chocolate factory, complete with lawn and loving grandparents, so Jeff has the best of both worlds, enjoying his work but seldom far from his family. Jeff is exploring the possibility of making Ecuador chocolates with honey in them for the Ecuador Honey Company, which produces 6 kinds of honey, including exotics like radish flower honey and avocado honey. Yummm. . . I can’t wait! Gianduja is Italian,
Not Spanish. . .Until Now
The word “gianduja” means a type of chocolate candy first developed by Pierre Paul Caffarel or a chocolate preparation made with approximately 50% hazelnut or almond paste, blended with cocoa and sugar. In 1826 Caffarel bought a new industrial machine invented by an Italian named Bozelli. Adapting the machine to make the world’s first large quantities of solid chocolate and later, in 1856, the hazelnut and chocolate candy he named Gianduja, all chocoholics are forever indebted to him. For further information, go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gianduja  While not as weird as Willie Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, Gianduja Chocolatier is every bit as much fun to visit and definitely delicious. Jeff is helping put Ecuador chocolate on the map. Contact info for Jeff: info@giandujachocolate.com www.giandujachocolate.com Address: Av. 10 de Agosto N39-115 y Diguja (near La Y) Quito, Ecuador Phone: (593) 2 245 4502 See Jeff’s Ecuador chocolate-making video: http://www.youtube.com/ |
|
Back to top » Return to Life in Ecuador |
| Pro-Ecuador Insider Information This page allows you to browse recently added insider information, new website articles, newsletter mailings, and important updates. |
| Living in Ecuador Blog We share our daily Ecuador Experience as well as answer your questions about Living in Ecuador. Read answers to questions from Pro-Ecuador readers. |
| Living in Ecuador: The Story Behind Pro-Ecuador.com Living in Ecuador: Details, background info, and the history of Pro-Ecuador.com |
| About Pro-Ecuador Staff Bios Staff bios and the story behind Pro-Ecuador.com |
| Contact Information for Pro-Ecuador.com Contact Pro-Ecuador Staff by Email, Fax, or Postal Mail |
| Pro-Ecuador Site Map Browse a map of all the pages on Pro-Ecuador.com |
| Living in Ecuador Living in Ecuador: Insider's Tips. Make your Ecuador move problem free with travel facts, living advice. Learn about Ecuador culture from U.S. Expats. |
| Life in Ecuador Life in Ecuador: Personal accounts of obstacles and triumphs encountered while living in Ecuador. |
| Moving to Ecuador: An Idea Whose Time has Come Moving to Ecuador and living in Ecuador may be the very best choice you can make right now. Important information on Ecuador that you need is right here. |
| Responsible Global Citizen Responsible global citizen top 7 tips for global living |
| Retirement in Ecuador Retirement in Ecuador: newest hot-spot for retirees and expats wanting the good life without the financial stress. |
| Healthy Living in Ecuador: A Country Where It’s Hard Not
to Be Healthy Healthy Living in Ecuador, a country where good health is the norm, not the exception |
| Ecuador Dentists Dentistry in Ecuador with well trained Ecuador dentists can be a wondeful experience with quality care. Consider dental vacations |
| Move to Ecuador: Q and A’s Answers to many of your questions about you move to Ecuador. |
| Real Estate in Ecuador Real estate in Ecuador is booming because prices are low and values are high. International real estate investors can build a foundation of wealth before the usual rush of discovery takes place |
| Ecuador Real Estate Tours Ecuador Real Estate tours will focus on the area around Cotacachi, Otavalo and Ibarra |
| Vacation and long term rentals listings in Ecuador Long term and vacation rental listings in Cotacachi, Ecuador |
| Condos in Ecuador,Condos
for sale in Ecuador Condos in Ecuador offer a wonderful bargain for the full-time resident or the part-time vacationer. Mountain condominiums offer great value. |
| Pro-Ecuador Services: Cotacachi Real estate Pro-Ecuador Services include offering Cotacachi real estate, buyer's agent for real estate in Ecuador, location of vacation rentals, document translation, research and analysis. |
| Ecuador Real Estate Buying Process Ecuador Real Estate Buying Process is much easier than most Latin American countries |
| Cotacachi Real Estate: Properties for Sale in Cotacachi Cotacachi Real Estate offers surprising values in the midst of tranquility and peace. Low cost of living a plus. |
| Cotacachi: A Pastoral Ecuador Village Cotacachi: A pastoral Ecuador village is enticing foreigners from many shores with its vibrant hills and quaint colonial charm. |
| Cotacachi Hotels, Hostels and Retreats, Cotacachi, Ecuador Several Cotacachi Hotels, Hostels and Retreats are available, with a variety of prices, locations and amenities, from clean and economical to the most elegant settings you can imagine. |
| Ibarra, the White City Ibarra, the White City, is a colonial city in Ecuador about 3 hours north of Quito |
| Hidden Places in Ecuador Where to find those hidden places in Ecuador, those secret places in Ecuador that the locals keep to themselves, secret beaches, jungle hideaways, rare birds, orchids, wildlife. |
| Ecuador Beaches Ecuador Beaches from Pedernales to Manta are stunning, both the water and the weather is warm and it’s neither well developed nor heavily populated. |
| Ecuador laws are Fair and Easy and Provide Protection for
Foreign Investors Following Ecuador laws is easy and provides protection for foreigners. Ecuador laws are favorable, visa requirements not complicated. |
| Information on Ecuador Information on Ecuador: some of the best websites available will help you make informed decisions about your visit, move or investment in Ecuador. |
| Travel Safety Travel safety information for your trip to Ecuador with details about immunizations, food and water, and personal security. |
| Ecuador Economy Ecuador Economy explained in plain language and compared to the United States. |
| Learn Spanish In Ecuador Learn Spanish In Ecuador shows how anyone can learn Spanish just by living in Ecuador. |
| Spanish Phrases and Spanish Words Learning useful Spanish phrases, Spanish words and Spanish sayings is easy and makes navigating Ecuador so much more enjoyable. |
| Ecuador Movies and Videos On our multimedia page you'll find book-reviews, articles and short films about Cotacachi and Ecuador |
| Pictures of Ecuador A tour of Ecuador via pictures of Ecuador. Pictures and descriptions that tell a story |
| Ecuador Eco-Photo Tour Ecuador Eco-Photo Tour – Capture the majesty of Ecuador’s scenic wonders with a ten-day tour in photographic paradise. |
| Living in Ecuador Blog We share our daily Ecuador Experience as well as answer your questions about Living in Ecuador. Read answers to questions from Pro-Ecuador readers. |
|
|
