NAU DO CACAU – A cross-cultural love story
Anna and Marco from Nau do Cacau are a lovely couple who I met at a fair in Lisbon, thanks to my mother who insisted I should try their delicious vegan bio handmade chocolates.
She was right. It was well worth it!
What was supposed to be a quick introduction turned into a long and pleasant conversation.
Since then, we have been following and cheering each other’s projects.
Considering that February is a month of romance and chocolate (at least in Portugal and many other countries), I thought it would be pertinent to interview them.
Let’s meet this couple who made chocolate one of their sweet common spot.
She is from Poland. He is from Portugal. Their love story turned into chocolate.
LPM: Anna and Marco, February is a month of chocolate and romance. Before we get into the subject of chocolate, let’s start with romance. Tell us a bit about yourselves. Where are you both from and how did you meet?
Anna: I was born in Poland and I met Marco during my first visit to Portugal 20 years ago. Love flourished even if at the time without the sweetness of chocolate. The distance and cultural differences proved to be no obstacle to our growing feelings.
LPM: “Nau do Cacau” is a recent project. What were you doing before?
Anna: In my previous jobs I had an administrative position in a hospital. Trying to find a more rewarding path, I started to sell organic products on the local market. It was a gratifying experience because I could pass on some knowledge about healthy lifestyle to my clients and in some cases, to learn from them, too.
Marco: I worked as an engineer in a big company.
LPM: Why chocolate? How did this idea come about?
Anna: We were already consumers of organic products. During one of our usual visits to Lisbon to do shopping, we talked with the owner of an organic shop and we were discussing what organic products are not produced in Portugal. One of them was chocolate. We thought, why not? Taking up this challenge, we decided to start a new phase in our life creating the project Biochok/Nau do Cacau.
LPM: From the moment you decided to go ahead with this project, what were your biggest challenges?
Anna: We felt the need to gather knowledge and skills that would result in a high-quality product. Some of the challenges were: defining production process, finding the best equipment and learning the art and science of making chocolate.
LPM: Why the name “Nau do Cacau”?
Anna: Following the Portuguese discoveries tradition to bring the best products from all over the world on the ships called “naus”, we try to bring the cocoa and other ingredients from the best origins.
LPM: Nau do Cacau is an ethical gourmet brand. Tell us all about it.
Ania: Our chocolates are characterized by the use of organic ingredients, distinguishing themselves as a special product since only 2% of the cocoa produced in the world has organic certification.
We insist on using only the best-selected cocoa, chosen for their quality and rarity.
The same goes for other ingredients, too.
We choose suppliers who respect local communities, paying fair value for their work and supporting the development of their economy and quality of life.
LPM: What’s next on your plans?
Ania: We want to continue to provide our clients with the exceptional products in which a few selected ingredients speak for themselves. Being the only artisan chocolate producer south of the river Tagus, we intend to continue to craft each product with dedication and attention to detail.
We are developing new ideas that will come to fruition in the near future.
LPM: By now, our readers must be curious about where to find your delicious handmade gourmet chocolates… Where can they be purchased, (in Portugal and abroad)?
Anna: You can find our chocolates in most organic and also health and gourmet shops throughout Portugal.
In Europe, it is also possible to buy our chocolates directly from our website www.naudocacau.pt
LPM: Now, on a personal note: is it difficult to work together, as a couple? What is your advice to couples thinking to get into business together?
Anna: I think we are really lucky because we get along quite well working together. Of course, there can be sometimes tensions but we enjoy the creative process of developing our brand.
A common sense of humour is an important part of coping with day- to- day stressful situations.
LPM: Last question: Have you found your sweet spot with Nau do Cacau? In other words, have you found your bliss in this project?
Anna: We are still working on it because the goals we have still not achieved prevent us from enjoying properly the present success.
Meanwhile, we are very happy because of the growing number of satisfied consumers of our chocolates and the enthusiastic feedback we receive.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I am a sucker for love stories and Anna and Marco touched me not only with theirs but also with what came out of it… their delicious bio handmade chocolates made of cocoa sourced from the best ethical supplier from around the world.
Deliciously inspirational!
(Thank you Anna and Marco for having such a yummy business idea!)
You can follow Nau do Cacau on Instagram and Facebook, and don’t forget to check their website.
Check these interviews for more inspiring stories of people who realized that it is “never too late to find your bliss”.
May The Bliss be with you,
Luciana
