Tag Archives: Elixir

Belize, Our Products

Cacao Fruit Elixir For Sale!

We are pleased to inform you that we have Cacao Elixir 8oz bottles for sale in The Apothecary.  Usually they are snapped up by chocolate connoisseurs at Elixir Tastings before they even get into the on-line shop.

Cacao Fruit Elixir 8oz.
Cacao Fruit Elixir 8oz.

The Cacao Fruit was gathered in May of Last year; the pods were cracked open and the Elixir has  been through a lengthy process of infusion and regular siphoning since then.

It started with the Cacao pods:

Cacao Pods.
Cacao Pods.
Cacao Fruit Elixir.
Cacao Fruit Elixir.

The Final Product:

Cacao Fruit Elixir.
Cacao Fruit Elixir.

This is our Profile for the Cacao Fruit Elixir:

Colour: Amber brown with hints of burgandy.

Clarity: Very slightly translucent.

Nose: Musky, earthy and reminiscent of freshly cut hay.

Taste: Sweet and coats tongue with an unctuous velvety layer.  Complex taste with chocolate tones.

Medicinal Indications.

Digestive Stimulant.  Mood-lifting properties.

Serving Suggestions.

  • Store in the freezer for a cool, sipping liqueur.  Pour into a liqueur glass or shot glass and enjoy.  Excellent after-dinner digestif especially after a heavy meal.
  • Serve in a highball glass over ice and top up with soda.  Add an orange twist to complement the chocolate taste and aroma.
  • Can be used to replace brandy in cocktails.

Cacao Fruit Elixir Alcohol Content: 33% w/v.

Belize, Elixirs, Our Products, Soap

Apothecary Pictures.

Odd.Together.Shot

Hello Everyone.  This is a late post for me but I decided I had to keep the Blog going to bring the traffic in!!  I have noticed that if I don’t write for about three days, our viewing statistics go down.  Anyway, we found a whole load of missing Apothecary pictures stuck in a nameless file in the computer.  We have downloaded them and I will be sticking them in the appropriate places in our website very soon.  Meanwhile, enjoy our picture gallery!

Chocolate Swirl Soap.  Hand-made with Toledo cacao and coconut oil.

Chocolate Swirl Soap.
Chocolate Swirl Soap.

Our Chocolate Mint Body Wash is made from coconut oil castile soap (totally detergent free) which lathers up very nicely.  A must for any chocolate lover out there!

Chocolate Mint Body Wash.
Chocolate Mint Body Wash.

The Lemongrass Foot Spa is great for tired, achy feet.  It also acts as a natural deodorant and anti-fungal so it can be used for Athlete’s Foot.

Lemongrass Foot Spa.
Lemongrass Foot Spa.

If you feel like treating yourself, why not go for a 32oz (1 litre) Elixir?

Large 32oz Elixir.
Large 32oz Elixir.

Luxury Cacao Butter Soap is one of our new offerings for 2016.  Very indulgent with a creamy lather…lovely!!

Luxury Cacao Butter Soap.
Luxury Cacao Butter Soap.

If you want to see all this stuff plus lots more, please have a look at The Apothecary.

Belize, Elixirs, Our Products, Plants

Elixirs at Cotton Tree Lodge.

Elixirs.Passion.Cacao.Roselle

We had an Elixir Tasting last night at Cotton Tree Lodge with a small group of six.  The lodge is having a Chocolate group at the moment so we set the mood for the night by starting with Cacao Fruit as the first tasting.  This was interesting because it was a new batch and we were curious as to the response from the group.

Cacao Fruit Elixir.
Cacao Fruit Elixir.

In this batch, we actually increased the sugar content in order to balance the astringent qualities of the cacao bean.  The result was a mellow, well-rounded flavour with a definite rich chocolate taste.  Overall, the group found this elixir complex, interesting and unique.

This time, we talked more about the medicinal properties of the Elixirs.  It was very clear that the Cacao Fruit had mood-lifting and stimulating qualities as the night proceeded!  This one got every-one into a talkative and lively mood.

By the end of the tasting, it seemed that the clear favourite was the Grapefruit Elixir.  This one is actually three years old and the maturation process brought out such interesting flavours!  It was a complex combination of pears, apples and honey.  Very silky smooth and unctuous and it had a lovely clear golden colour.

Grapefruit Elixir.
Grapefruit Elixir.

It just goes to show that aging a liqueur makes all the difference.  Most of the Elixirs that we have available are about 2 years old now and getting better.

Again, it was amusing to see the response towards the Culantro Elixir…you either love it or you hate it!!

Fresh Culantro.
Fresh Culantro.

Culantro is used interchangeably with cilantro in this country in cooking.  This herb lends a herbaceous refeshing taste to our Elixir.  Some people absolutely love it because they like everything with the taste of cilantro (culantro).  Others wrinkle up their nose in dismay and describe it as being “too soapy” or “too medicinal.”  The feedback is always very helpful!

Liqueur.Tasting.Together

For more information on our Elixirs, including taste profiles and medicinal properties, check out our link.  For our full list of Elixirs please check out The Apothecary.

Belize, Farming, Food, Plants

Mayan Cacao Fruit In Season.

Munchkin.Back.ViewThe Mayan Cacao Fruit Balam is now in season.  We have a few trees on the farm and this year they have been very generous.

Balam Fruit.
Balam Fruit.

This is Theobroma bicolor which is different from the Theobroma cacao in appearance and taste.

Theobroma cacao.
Theobroma cacao.

The Mayan cacao is also called “Balam” and it produces white beans as opposed to black/purplish beans of the normal variety of cacao.  The pulp around the beans taste of sweet musk melon.

Opened Balam Fruit.
Opened Balam Fruit.

We have had such an abundant crop that we have been eating the fruit everyday; it is really nice chilled in the refrigerator for a couple of hours…it really brings out the strong fruity flavour.

Balam Fruit.
Balam Fruit.

We also make a Balam Elixir with the pulp of this fruit.  The maturation process brings out the muskiness of the fruit and the end product tastes like a fragrant whisky.