From Ecuador to Bristol

I’m Carlos Ayala, a third-generation Italian Ecuadorian chocolate maker, living in Bristol since 2018.

My mother’s family comes from the Amazon. Since I was a child, I remember my grandmother bringing raw cacao beans. From an early age, I became familiar with cacao, its intense taste, and fantastic aroma.

With the eagerness to share the kitchen with my mum, and with loving support from my twin sister, I took my first steps into chocolate-making. I made truffles which I sold to my neighbours when I was just 12!

After working over 10 years on sustainable development I decided to learn more about the intricate process of chocolate production. I currently love to continue innovating and experimenting, always striving to create new and exciting chocolate flavours that capture the essence of Ecuadorian cacao.

With Vicolo Sei, I want to promote the importance of eating premium single origin chocolate and celebrating its luxurious and healthy characteristics.

I offer sensory chocolate tasting experiences for those eager to recognize flavour profiles and notes and the process about chocolate is made from cropping, harvest, post- harvest, and chocolate finishing.

My goal is achieving this premise through sustainable methods of sourcing and transparency along the supply chain, as we ethically sources cacao directly from local producers in Ecuador.