Ranger Chocolate Co. Mayan Chocolate Bar

Dark cacao, warming spice, and measured chile heat come together in the Ranger Chocolate Co. Mayan Chocolate Bar. Part of Ranger’s Adventure Series, the bar draws inspiration from historical Maya cacao preparations that combined cacao, spices, and chile peppers in richly flavored ceremonial drinks. A finishing addition of unrefined raw cacao deepens the chocolate character and adds texture, reflecting Ranger’s interest in exploring cacao through distinctive ingredients and historical influences.

Product Details:

• Producer: Ranger Chocolate Co.
• Founders: George Domurot and David Beanland
• Head Chocolate Maker: George Domurot
• Collection: Adventure Series
• Chocolate Type: Spiced dark chocolate bar
• Flavoring: Spices and chile peppers
• Additional Cacao: Unrefined raw cacao
• Inspiration: Historical Maya cacao preparations from Mesoamerica
• Production: Chocolate blended with spices and chile peppers, then finished with unrefined raw cacao for added flavor and texture

Sensory Description:

Deep cocoa leads the profile, followed by layered warm spice and a gradual chile warmth. The chocolate remains central, giving the bar a bittersweet foundation while the spices add aromatic complexity rather than overt sweetness. Unrefined raw cacao introduces a more immediate roasted-fruit intensity and a lightly textured finish. The chile builds with restraint, carrying dark cocoa and spice through a persistent, warming close.

Producer’s Background:

George Domurot and David Beanland founded Ranger Chocolate Co. in Portland in 2013, establishing the company as one of the city’s early bean-to-bar chocolate makers. Ranger manages chocolate production from cacao roasting through final packaging, allowing close control over flavor development and texture. Under Founder and Head Chocolate Maker George Domurot, the Adventure Series provides a framework for experimenting with unfamiliar ingredients, cultural references, and alternative expressions of cacao.

Cultural Inspiration:

The Mayan Chocolate Bar takes its inspiration from the long history of cacao in Mesoamerica, where Maya communities prepared cacao beverages with ingredients that could include spices and chile peppers. Ranger translates that broad historical influence into a contemporary solid chocolate bar rather than attempting to reproduce a single ancient recipe. The addition of raw cacao reinforces the central role of cacao while giving the finished bar greater flavor intensity and texture.

Serving Suggestions:

• Serve: Enjoy at cool room temperature to reveal the progression from dark cacao and spice to warming chile.
• Tasting: Allow a small piece to melt slowly so the spice and chile character develops gradually.
• Pairings: Serve with coffee, espresso, smoky black tea, aged rum, reposado tequila, or a roasted non-alcoholic beverage.
• Dessert Board: Pair with dried mango, roasted pumpkin seeds, candied citrus, or lightly salted nuts.
• Storage: Keep in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, moisture, heat, and strong aromas.

Why Ranger Chocolate Co. Mayan Chocolate Bar:

Ranger Chocolate Co. Mayan Chocolate Bar offers a layered alternative to conventional dark chocolate. Cacao provides depth, spices bring aromatic warmth, chile adds a controlled finish, and unrefined raw cacao contributes added intensity and texture. It is a distinctive choice for customers interested in dark chocolate with savory spice, gradual heat, and a thoughtful historical point of inspiration.