This flavour was inspired by my trip to Brazil in September 2025, as part of a small group of chocolatiers and chefs hosted by Valrhona USA. 

As a tribute to this unforgettable adventure, I wanted to create a bonbon for our Summer 2026 collection using Hukambi, a 53% dark milk chocolate made with cacao from the Bahia region we visited.

There were so many directions this bonbon could have taken. We tasted fresh papaya at the market, miel de cacao in a refreshing drink, countless varieties of passionfruit, and Jenipapo, a mysterious local fruity liqueur. We even tried cashew fruit, which, as our friend Chris perfectly described, tasted like a Band Aid. Needless to say, it was not a strong contender for a JACEK bonbon.

After some thought, a Caipirinha felt like the perfect choice for this summer collection. While in Brazil, we visited a cachaça distillery, and later that evening, our group held a cocktail competition (see the table set up in this post). As the champion of this highly esteemed challenge (wink), choosing this flavour felt especially fitting.

A classic Caipirinha is made with cachaça, a spirit made from fermented sugarcane juice, along with sugar, lime, and ice. It is bright, refreshing, and deeply connected to the place that inspired it.

The JACEK Caipirinha bonbon is crafted with a dark milk chocolate shell, filled with a cachaça ganache, and topped with a fresh mint and lime gel. We considered two shell designs, both shared in this post.  We proceeded with the vibrant green and white design, but would love to know which design you love best?

I have enjoyed this bonbon many times over the last week, and each time, the flavour brings me right back to the beating drums, the sunshine, and the sounds of the jungle.

Thank you Valrhona USA for this remarkable experience, made even more special by the wonderful humans & colleagues who shared this trip. Thank you for your  investment in connecting us to the land, the farming community, and one another, as we all continue raising the bar on fine chocolate.