MOM SUPER POWERS

Talking about mother's day has always been so easy for me. The admiration for my mom, my grandmothers, and all the moms in the family has made all the attributes flow, and I can write letters full of love.

However, today that I started this blog in honor of Mother's Day, I realized that talking about myself as a mother and as a businesswoman at the same time was not so easy. I was left in limbo with nothing to write.It's funny how this unconsciously took me to my cell phone to see memories captured in photos, and without realizing it, have become our footprints in the sand.

And guess what? I found my attributes as a mom—the same ones that I am sure are the attributes of all the moms who have their business, of the moms who get up to build their castles day by day, and of all the moms who put their heart and soul into what they do. Here I leave the attributes that memories brought me and that, of course, have two main actors... Samuel and Villakuyaya:

Tireless Mama

I see this attribute repeated from the first day that Samuel was in my womb. The mind did not stop creating, and this was essential for Villakuyaya to continue on. Today, four years old as my little one, I continue to create opportunities in my business. I continue to fight for it to grow every day, and I think that what makes me a tireless mother.

PROTECTIVE MOM

Watching Samuel sleep was always one of my hobbies when he was a baby. The peace that he had when he slept was vital for Villakuyaya because my mind opened easily to visualize ideas, flavors, and designs that I wanted to do in the business. That vigilance and protection were the guidelines for us to continue on the right path.

SOCIABLE MOM

The moments of joy and fun were repeated daily with Samuel. We were filled with individual and group activities. Along with my social life with my little one, Villakuyaya did not miss any networking event or shows. Everything was scheduled in such a way that to this day we can balance work and fun. Of course, now I take him everywhere.

RESEARCH MOM

OMG, I really made it my goal that my son should eat healthy and started this whole journey of research and education about what foods are the best for his development. It's funny that years later when I decided to learn how to make truffles and bonbons, I was putting this super power back to fill me with all the necessary information so that they come out perfect but above all delicious.

Mother's Day is just celebrated on a certain date; however, if we go to our memory trunk (photos on the cell phone for instance), we can see that the celebration of mothers is everyday. Happy mothers' day to all of the business mom out there!

Celebrating Achievements and Growth This Women's Month

March was a blessed month in every aspect of our journey as a business.

Villakuyaya surprised Japan with the full range of its products and more than stunned many with the diversity of tea inclusions.

Our two local shows confirmed that Villakuyaya has a presence in our state, and step-by-step, we are including positioning in new states.

Moreover, our first corporate tasting brought together 43 wonderful women who enjoyed an afternoon of knowledge and chocolate. This event with Impact 100 Garden State's filled my soul with joy just by seeing the amazing reactions of the participants to our products.

Finally, as a businesswoman, I had the opportunity to tell my story in an online magazine for entrepreneurs. Go Solo allowed me to share my difficulties, achievements, goals, and wisdom as a businesswoman in their platform. Closing March with this bouquet of blessings and possibilities is my way of standing in front of other women and telling them that anything is possible with dedication and perseverance.

A Perfect Balance of Sweetness and Zest: Villakuyaya Fine Dark Chocolate Lemon Essence

My love for tea makes me keep looking for new delicious blends to pair with my chocolates, as well as to learn more about what is inside each of these tea blends that can be more beneficial to our health. I think I owe it to my grandmother, who always had a magical natural herb for every pain.

And for this week, I'd like to introduce Villakuyaya Fine Dark Chocolate Lemon Essence 80%, one of our new tea inclusion flavors.

We decided to include Lemon Essence in our 80% collection because the balance of this percentage makes the strong teas milder. Its main ingredients are black tea and lemongrass. This combination makes the aftertaste a little sour and citrusy, but the overall taste takes a strange turn and reveals a unique flavor that we may not taste at first, but the moment you get it, you will feel the fruity and citrusy combination in both its taste and aroma.

Moreover, when I think about lemongrass, I remember how it relieved my cramps and reduced inflammation in my stomach; the thing is, these are only a few of the health benefits lemongrass can provide.

So, what can lemongrass really do in our body?

1. Not all antioxidants found in natural products have the same chemical composition. Antioxidants found in lemongrass, for example, can help prevent cell dysfunction in the coronary arteries.

2. Two main compounds of lemongrass are what we called citral and geranial. These compounds are responsible for its anti-inflammatory properties, and they help stop the release of certain inflammation-causing markers in your body.

3. Lemongrass is also a natural diuretic, allowing the body to expel excess fluid and sodium.

The pairing of tea and chocolate can be a magical experience, especially when it comes to the Villakuyaya Fine Dark Chocolate Lemon Essence 80%. This unique blend of black tea and lemongrass not only creates a delicious taste but also offers various health benefits. So, the next time you indulge in a piece of Villakuyaya Fine Dark Chocolate Lemon Essence 80%, remember that you're not only treating yourself to a delightful experience but also providing your body with some much-needed nutrients.

I hope these facts pique your interest enough to try and discover one of the new flavors we've created in Villakuyaya. Enjoy!

Deliciously Healthy: Villakuyaya Organic Dark Chocolate Matcha Green Tea

Talking about our matcha green tea chocolate bar is talking about a superfood that has a unique umami flavor (fifth taste) and an antioxidant boost.

But what makes this chocolate bar special?

It has antioxidants.

The antioxidants found in this bar, which includes chocolate, green tea leaves, and matcha powder, help in the elimination of harmful molecules from the body and the reduction of oxidative stress.

Antioxidants can also improve the quality of our skin by giving it more hydration. Additionally, it allows the skin to properly oxygenate itself and provides protection against UV rays.

It contains flavonoids.

Chocolate, green tea, and matcha powder contain many flavonoids, which are oxides that help dilate blood vessels, improving circulation and reducing blood pressure.

Moreover, because flavonoids activate blood flow in the brain, cognitive functions improve, and Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases can be avoided. Flavonoids can also reduce inflammation because their antimicrobial properties eliminate germ strains in our bodies.

It has polyphenols and theobromine.

These two compounds found in chocolate and matcha help reduce bad cholesterol while increasing good cholesterol. They also improve attention and psychomotor capacity.

Now that you know all the benefits, don't you want a flavor booster?

Villakuyaya Chocolate and Zaruma Gold Coffee Pairing

Isn’t the idea of combining chocolate and coffee amazing?

Well, that was the beginning of the conversation with my good friend Diana Aguilar from Zaruma Gold Coffee, who was enthusiastic about the idea. We were then able to start creating the event at that very moment.

Our cocoa and chocolate beans share infinite similarities in processes as well as the flavors and aromas that emerge from the land where they are grown; thus, we call it a pairing event.

Ecuador Taste

Villakuyaya's main harvest area is Esmeraldas on Ecuador's northern Pacific coast, whereas Zaruma has chosen a variety of Ecuadorian regions such as Sierra, Costa, Amazonia, and Galapagos, where coffee cultivation is rich in flavors and aromas.

The pairing began with Zaruma explaining the methods we were going to use in the coffee. These were very didactic for the assistants because the demonstration of each one was carried out in situ.

While the preparations were being made, it was Villakuyaya's turn to give a brief explanation of how to taste chocolate using the senses; however, I can say that the attendees had a preliminary tasting experience, which made the explanation easier.

The chocolate began to melt on the palate, allowing the flavor notes to emerge. We then began our first pairing with a sip of Sierra origin coffee made with the Quemex Pour Over technique. This was paired with a 80% pure dark chocolate.

This first pairing produced notes of tobacco at the start, wood in the middle, and a strong aftertaste of mushrooms.

In the second pairing, we used a fresh Cold Brew with a little vanilla syrup added and our 65% pure dark chocolate, resulting in notes of chocolate, smoke, and an aftertaste of toasted hazelnuts. This pairing was my favorite and the one I'm most amazed at.

Moving on, the third pairing combined cortado coffee with 65% dark chocolate with coconut and vanilla inclusion, which produced notes of red fruits at the start, vanilla caramel in the middle, and an aftertaste of almonds and walnuts.

Finally, we used the Quemex method again, which was prepared by our assistants. This was the icing on the cake since they had a lot of fun doing this activity. We used Galapagos coffee that has a lot of fruity tones and paired it with 39% milk chocolate, resulting in notes of spices at the beginning, almonds and nuts in the middle, and a chocolate with a caramel aftertaste at the end.

A Successful Pairing Event

To sum it up, the result of our first pairing event was incredible. Both we and the attendees enjoyed it from start to finish, and we were left wanting to continue exploring flavors and aromas through more sips and pieces of chocolate. It really was an experience that awakened all our senses and took us on a flavor and aroma journal around "Ecuador taste."

Gratefulf for 2022: Let's wrap it up!

Happy new year, everyone!

As a businesswoman, wife, and mom, I always try to be myself. I move in my own reality on my own path and follow my heart in business with a lot of joy and vision. I want to enjoy every moment.

This year has definitely been a year of much learning and growth, both personal and professional. It has provided me with a better understanding of what I want for Villakuyaya and myself.

Villakuyaya, my partner in this path that I started eight years ago, has shown me how to grow in the business world in a simple way—by being myself. This has inspired our story and made our products unique, not only for their exquisite flavors and inclusions but also because we worked with our hearts to make everything possible.

We are grateful to you, our loyal customers, who have been our inspiration and engine in our pursuit of better service and quality in our products. Thank you for staying with us!

Cheers to a fantastic 2023, full of new opportunities and happiness in everything we decide to do.

Good vibes and energy to everyone!

Kindly,

Tania Terminello

Villkuyaya Gourmet Chocolate

Why buy from Villakuyaya?

As an entrepreneur, I followed an inside heartbeat that made me create a dream . . . a vision, that with a lot of effort turned into Villakuyaya.

For me to jump into the market a few years back, there was a lot of history behind the brand, and a lot of sacrifices, fears, and sometimes tears. That history was the one that made the difference then, and today what helps me most is the seal in the memories of our loyal customers.

The path for being a business wasn't and isn’t easy, and to stay on that path every day is still harder. At the end of the day I can tell you, I have a face of mission accomplished, because I always try to make or create or publish something for my small business.

Behind Villakuyaya is an unflagging mind who doesn't stop thinking in what is the next step for growth, an unsparing person who works more hours for keeping engagement with the customers, but also behind Villakuyaya is a wife and mom who has to make a balance between the love of house and the love of business.

When you are shopping Villakuyaya you making a difference that at the end of the day all add ups. You make my day by supporting my effort, my dedication, my time, my small business and my family, but also you are supporting the communities behind me, the farmers and their families back in Ecuador that grow the land and the people in the factory that handcrafted produce the chocolate bars.

This year I want to be grateful for you, my customer friends, who have supported Villakuyaya from the beginning and all along the way, and especially since March and the challenges of this year. With your purchase you help inspire and fuel me to stay on this wonderful path that I have chosen. I can tell you that I felt not alone, and your support was amazing.

Thank you

Tania

Thanksgiving is here, lets celebrate !!!

It is going to be an unusual thanksgiving this year.  Most families will not be able to reunite because of the pandemic, and the idea of a virtual holiday is being thought of as a new normal for the celebration to make families feel together when they can’t be.  The important thing is to not let that this pandemic blow out the spirit of the festivity.

 We have to celebrate Thanksgiving, and to give thanks for our life, for our families, and for all the divine favors and goodness that God lets us enjoy.

 The good part of the virtual celebration is that you can include all the persons you are grateful for; all the friends and family that make you feel special.

 So lets think apart from the traditional foods that you can share with your loved ones virtually?  A good fresh idea to try could be a pairing of chocolate and wine, two irresistible choices that you can send to family and friends and make an extra special thanksgiving virtual pairing.

 Our suggestions for a selection for a good pairing would be a Malbec with our Villakuyaya Masala Chai 80%; a Merlot with our Villakuyaya Pure 80%; and a sweet wine like a Port, Syrah or a Moscato, with our Villakuyaya Earl Grey Lavender 80%.

 Lets spread the cheer, and lets be thankful for life, and lets share with the ones that we love.

 Lets start with the celebration by sending a wine and Villakuyaya chocolates for this new normal Thanksgiving and holiday festivities.

Cheers!!!

Dark Chocolate Cookies with Caramel

This delicious recipe is perfect for you, a not expert baker. All the recipes that we choose we prepared with our chocolate chips coverture, but because our chocolate bars flavors are made in the base of our coverture you can decide to bake with any of the delicious tea inclusion bars.

Today we decide to make strong chocolate cookies that is why we choose 80% chocolate chips, so let's start with the recipe.

Ingredients

 4 ounces bittersweet Villakuyaya chocolate chips  80%

 3/4 cup (6 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature

 1 cup all-purpose flour

 1/2 cup of Villakuyaya Cacao powder

 1 teaspoon baking soda

 1 teaspoon kosher salt

 3/4 cup granulate sugar

 1 egg

 2 teaspoon dark rum or any sweet liquor

 24 caramel candies or cold dulce de leche

Place the chocolate and 2 ounces butter in a heatproof bowl set over, gently simmering water in a saucepan. Heat, stirring, until the butter and chocolate are melted.

 Instructions

Sift the flour, cacao powder, and baking soda into a bowl, then whisk in the salt. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the remaining 1/2 cups butter and the sugar and beat on medium speed for about 3 minutes. Add the egg and bitters and beat just until incorporated and the dough starts to come together. Remove the bowl from the mixer stand and, using a rubber spatula, fold in the melted chocolate just to incorporate. Cover and refrigerate for 30 min.

 Position two oven racks, evenly spaced, in the middle of the oven and preheat the oven to 350F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

 Scoop a generous 1 tablespoon-size ball of dough into your hand. Insert a caramel or dulce de leche into the middle of the dough ball and smooth the dough over the caramel, encasing it completely. You should have 24 cookies.  Place half of the cookies, evenly spaced, on each baking sheet. Lightly flatten each ball with your hand.

 Bake the cookies for 12 to 14 minutes, until just firm to the touch and look puffed, switching the baking sheets between the racks about halfway through the baking time. Transfer the baking sheets to wire racks and let cool for 5 minutes, then carefully transfer the cookies to the racks and let cool completely before serving.

Villakuyaya is the Key for a good Workout !!!

Do you know Villakuyaya organic dark chocolate has a lot of benefits for your health and can help you get fit?

Well, let me tell you! Villakuyaya organic dark chocolate is rich in flavonoids, and polyphenols, a class of antioxidants. All in all it is a complex blend of chemicals and compounds with a growing list of health benefits. It is better to choose a higher percentage bar, as the higher percentage means it has more cacao, and more healthy nutrients.

The higher percentages start at 80% and you can have a daily dose of 20 to 30 gr. If you are working out, you should have doses before and after you exercise.

Your fitness goals could be solved with a piece of our Villakuyaya organic dark chocolate, which will reduce your hunger cravings, satisfy your appetite, and offer you a lot of essential energy.

The effect of these antioxidants will avoid your muscles from becoming too achy after and during strenuous workouts.

Your mind will be stimulated to keep your focus on the intense activity, and it also releases serotonin which is going to calm the nervous system down.

Meanwhile the epicatechin, another antioxidant in dark chocolate, will increase the oxygen flow throughout the bloodstream. This will lower blood pressure because chocolate is considered a vasodilator.

Hopefully, we have explained how Villakuyaya could be your best partner in your daily workout routine, so go ahead and indulge, and let your sensations be entertained