The Ribeira Sacra and the chocolate factory

The Ribeira Sacra is composed of more than four hundred kilometres that are home to much more than the tradition and the production of high quality wines. The beautiful landscape, that is decorated with vineyards, witnessed the construction of a chocolate factory in Parada de Sil. What remains of this milestone today is the Teimende Chocolate House Museum, unique in Galicia.

The Ribeira Sacra is composed of more than four hundred kilometres that are home to much more than the tradition and the production of high quality wines. The beautiful landscape, that is decorated with vineyards, witnessed the construction of a chocolate factory in Parada de Sil. What remains of this milestone today is the Teimende Chocolate House Museum, unique in Galicia.

The Casares family began their activity as chocolate makers in the 1930s. Settled in Teimande, they made a dream come true under the name "Chocolate Caldelas" and "Chocolate Casares". The production of this product ended in the 1980s, with the death of the last chocolate maker in the family.

The history of this factory began in 1934, in a two-stone mill pulled by a donkey through which the cocoa was passed once it had been roasted and peeled. It was then collected in brass containers, where it was left until it cooled and solidified. Later, this paste was put in an oven and passed through a mixer along with flour, sugar and cocoa butter that they bought in factories in Ourense.

The chocolate bars were not obtained until the mixture passed through the refiner, which made it possible to obtain chocolate in different textures for the different types that were marketed. Afterwards, it was placed in moulds, crushed by hand, passed through a machine that eliminated the bubbles, left to rest in the fridge and, finally, wrapped with paper and Caldelas chocolate seal.

This museum opened in 2015, with the machinery, property and abundant commercial documentation provided by the Casares family, in order to preserve the memory of this activity. It was the Xunta that took charge of the restoration of the factory with European funds from the Axencia Galega de Turismo.

If you are undisputed chocolate lover and you would like to learn about the process of making and distributing chocolate, these facilities offer a tour of the chocolate industry and its influence on the history of Parada do Sil, as well as small objects and machinery necessary for its production. And, although it is no longer produced there, you will be able to obtain chocolate with the traditional family recipe.