This Spanish Heritage Month, we’re reflecting on something profound: we celebrate Spanish heritage every single day at Chocolat-e—and so does America.

 

The Spanish Legacy in American Culture Runs Deep

Long before the Mayflower, Spanish explorers, missionaries, and settlers were shaping what would become the United States. From the stunning architecture of California’s missions to the vibrant festivals of the Southwest, from the place names that dot our maps (San Francisco, Los Angeles, Colorado, Nevada, Florida) to the very words we speak– Spanish heritage is woven into the fabric of American identity.

But perhaps nowhere is this influence more deliciously evident than in our food culture.

Spanish colonization didn’t just change geography—it transformed global cuisine. When Spanish conquistadors encountered cacao in Moctezuma’s court in 1520, they didn’t just “discover” chocolate; they became the bridge that brought this sacred Mesoamerican treasure to the world. They added sugar, experimented with spices like cinnamon and vanilla, and created a foundation for the chocolate we cherish today.

This culinary exchange flows through American kitchens daily: the tomatoes in our salads (brought from the Americas to Spain, then back), the chiles that fire up our Southwest cuisine, the vanilla that perfumes our desserts, and yes—the chocolate that sweetens our lives.

At Chocolat-e, our single-origin collection tells this story with each and every bar.

Mexico 72%– Where it all began. The Maya and Aztec declared cacao the “food of the gods,” when Spanish conquistadors first encountered this divine creation. Our Mexico chocolate delivers that original power: gustatory thunder with hard caramel notes, peppery spice, and the lingering acidity of fruit —flavors that echo through 500 years of history.

Ecuador 72% – From the cradle of cacao itself. This lush region embeds scents of flowers—jasmine, rose—and the forest floor. Spanish influence helped spread these precious characteristics worldwide, and today Ecuador produces some of the world’s finest “Nacional” cacao varieties.

Dominican Republic 72% – Where Spanish colonial influence created a unique chocolate culture in the Caribbean. Complex and sophisticated, this chocolate reflects centuries of cultural fusion in one of Spain’s first New World settlements.

Belize 47%– Our dark milk chocolate honors the Maya Mountain region, where Spanish colonial history intersects with ancient Maya traditions. White flowers? and jasmine notes capture the tropical beauty where the two worlds met.

Brazil 43% – Though Portuguese-colonized, Brazil’s chocolate culture was profoundly influenced by Spanish techniques and trade routes. This dark milk represents the broader Iberian chocolate heritage that shaped South America.

When you enjoy our chocolate, you’re participating in a story that’s fundamentally American—one of cultural exchange, adaptation, and celebration. Spanish heritage isn’t separate from American culture; it IS American culture. From the Spanish colonial missions of California to the chocolate chip cookies in suburban kitchens, this influence touches every corner of our national experience.

Today, as Hispanic Americans represent nearly 19% of the U.S. population and contribute over $2.7 trillion annually to our economy, we see Spanish heritage not as historical artifact, but as living, breathing culture that continues to enrich our communities, our traditions, and yes—our taste buds.

At Chocolat-e, we don’t just honor Spanish Heritage Month in September. We celebrate it every day because it’s inseparable from the American story we’re all part of. Every time someone savors our Mexico 72% or melts our Belize 47% on their tongue, they’re connecting with 500 years of cultural exchange that made America the beautifully diverse nation it is today.

Mexico 72%– – Caramel thunder with peppery notes and roasted acidity

Dominican Republic 72%  – Complex Caribbean sophistication

Belize 47% – Vanilla, white flowers and jasmine

Ecuador 72% – Floral notes from the cocoa cradle
Brazil 43% – Rich Iberian-influenced tradition