The Spirit Behind Every Bean: Zoey Guerrero

By Ingrit Jaimes

In the world of specialty chocolate, we often talk about "terroir" or "flavour notes." But at Artilate, we talk about people. Specifically, we talk about the hands that endure the sun, the mountains, and the deep stillness of the Santander forest.

Today, I want to honour Zoneidy Guerrero—a woman whose spirit is ground into every bean we source and whose resilience defines the very meaning of "Artisan."

A Partnership Forged in the Mountains

Our story didn't begin with chocolate; it began with public health. Years ago, Zoneidy and I worked together on a public health project in the most remote corners of Santander. Our mission was to reach children under five and pregnant women who lived far beyond the reach of roads.

To get there, the "commute" was an odyssey. After a six-hour drive from the nearest town, the road simply ended. From there, we walked or rode horses for another three hours through the dense tropical forest. To deliver nutritional snacks to these families, we relied on mules and donkeys to navigate the narrow, muddy mountain passes. It was in these long hours of walking that I saw Zoneidy’s dedication to her community and her land.

From Public Health to Cacao Heritage

While we were working in health, Zoneidy was also investing in her future. She studied as an Agricultural Technician and later moved into environmental studies at university. But her heart remained on the farm.

She began her own cacao crop, continuing a long family tradition. She didn't just grow the beans; she began crafting Chocula—a traditional Santander drink made of roasted cacao and corn. But being a female farmer in Colombia is a path of immense challenge. As younger generations migrate to the cities in search of steady paychecks, Zoneidy stayed. She chose the hard work of the countryside over the comfort of the city.

The Price of a Harvest

People often enjoy a piece of chocolate without realizing the physical danger involved in its origin. Cacao grows in dense, humid forests—the perfect habitat for tropical diseases and predators.

While cleaning and pruning her trees, Zoneidy was bitten by a venomous snake. In a place where "medical access" is an eight-hour journey away, this bite almost took her life. She survived because of her strength, eventually reaching the antivenom treatment she needed. This is the reality of the Colombian forest: beauty and danger exist in the same breath.

A Legacy in Motion

Zoneidy’s farm is nestled near a navigable river, yet reaching it still requires hours on horseback or motorcycle after leaving the last truck stop. To bring her product to market, she still relies on mules and long, grueling workdays.

Her hard work is finally being recognized. Last year, she won funding for specialized equipment to grind and shell her cacao, allowing her to scale the production of her beloved Chocula.

Why Zoneidy Matters to Artilate

When I need technical assistance regarding cacao—when I need to understand the soul of the bean or the nuances of the harvest—Zoneidy is my primary source. She is the person I trust most.

What unites us is a decade of communication, a shared history of humanitarian service, and an unbreakable bond through cacao. When you taste Artilate chocolate, you aren't just tasting Colombian soil; you are tasting Zoey’s passion, her recovery, and her unwavering love for the land.

She is the spirit behind the bean.