Name: A taste of Mexico's ancient chocolate-making tradition
Uploaded: 2021-09-01T14:49:10Z
Duration: 5 min 49 s
Description: Dating back more than 800 years, chocolate is deeply woven into the Indigenous history of Oaxaca, Mexico. TED Fellow Germán Santillán talks about his work reviving the Mixtec technique used to prepare this ancient delicacy by training a new generation of local farmers -- helping create economic opportunity and preserve a delicious legacy at the same time.

Dating back more than 800 years, chocolate is deeply woven into the Indigenous history of Oaxaca, Mexico. TED Fellow Germán Santillán talks about his work reviving the Mixtec technique used to prepare this ancient delicacy by training a new generation of local farmers -- helping create economic opportunity and preserve a delicious legacy at the same time.

A taste of Mexico's ancient chocolate-making tradition

A small village in Oaxaca has brought back centuries-old chocolate-making techniques, linking its heritage to modern economic opportunity. Once at risk of fading away, Mixtec methods for growing and preparing cocoa now empower local families, especially women, while producing chocolate from native bean varieties. In just five years, production jumped from 50 to over 1,800 kilograms, showing how ancestral wisdom can drive sustainable change. By uniting tradition and innovation, communities reclaim pride, preserve culture, and create livelihoods.