Artisanal Mezcal and Fine Chocolate Tasting

The best part of this Tulum tasting is the way it treats mezcal as both a drink and a piece of Mexican culture. You’ll compare five mezcals made from different agaves, then pair each with chocolate, citrus, and traditional snacks, including spicy peanuts, cacao, and grasshoppers.

I like the small group limit of 10, which gives Shamira room to answer questions and adjust the talk to your interests. I also like the unusual pairings. The chocolate is excellent, but the citrus and grasshopper snacks help you notice how mezcal changes with food.

The main consideration is the setting. This is held at a private home in the residential La Veleta area, not at a large commercial tasting room. That makes it personal and relaxed, but you’ll need to arrange your own way to the meeting point and be comfortable with a home-based experience.

Key points to know before booking

• Five mezcals and five fine chocolates: Each pour is matched with Mexican chocolate and other foods to show off different flavors.
• A seasonal welcome cocktail: Your tasting begins with a fresh mezcal cocktail that changes during the year.
• Shamira leads the session: She speaks English and explains agave varieties, production methods, history, and cultural traditions.
• A small, personal setting: The maximum group size is 10, and the tasting takes place on a decorated outdoor patio.
• Surprising snacks: Expect citrus, spicy peanuts, cacao, and grasshoppers as part of the food pairings.
• Two hours and $89.61 per person: The price is reasonable if you value instruction and several quality pours, not just a quick drink sample.

What happens during the two-hour mezcal tasting

The session starts with a welcome mezcal cocktail. This is not one fixed drink that every group receives year-round. The cocktail changes with the seasons, so it gives the host a chance to introduce mezcal in a lighter, more approachable form before moving into the formal tasting.

That opening matters if you are new to agave spirits. Mezcal can taste smoky, herbal, fruity, earthy, sweet, or peppery, and a cocktail provides an easy first step. If you already enjoy mezcal, it is still a pleasant way to begin before comparing neat pours.

The main tasting includes five different mezcals. Each comes from a particular agave type and production style, and the point is to notice how much the spirit can change from one glass to the next. The session is not built around drinking one large serving. It is about small tastes, careful comparison, and learning what you are sensing.

Shamira explains the production process from agave harvesting through the finished bottle. She also covers the drink’s legends, cultural background, and denomination of origin. That information helps you understand why artisanal mezcal costs more than a basic industrial spirit and why bottles from different regions can taste so different.

You do not need prior mezcal experience. The explanations are designed to help you identify flavor differences without making the tasting feel like a formal exam. If you have questions about Mexican food, drinks, or local customs, this is also a setting where you can ask them directly.

The five mezcal pours and why the pairings matter

The tasting menu includes mezcal Espadín and a silvestre mezcal, along with three other pours. Espadín is a familiar starting point in the mezcal world, while the silvestre selection helps show how a different agave can create another set of aromas and flavors.

The food is not simply placed beside the glasses for decoration. The pairings are meant to show how mezcal behaves with sweet, sour, salty, spicy, and savory foods. You may begin with a citrus plate, then move to Mexican chocolates, spicy peanuts, cacao, or grasshoppers.

The citrus is especially useful because acidity can sharpen or soften the spirit. Chocolate brings out sweeter and darker notes, while salty and spicy snacks create a different contrast. Grasshoppers, known in Mexico as chapulines, may be the biggest surprise for many people. They are served as a traditional snack and can have a savory, garlicky, spicy character.

You do not have to pretend every food is your favorite. The value is in trying the pairing and seeing how it changes the drink. One participant who had never eaten grasshoppers found the flavor surprisingly tasty but decided that two were enough. That is a sensible approach: try what interests you, and treat the more unusual items as part of the cultural lesson rather than a challenge.

Mexican chocolate gets equal billing

This is not a mezcal tasting with a token square of chocolate at the end. Five different fine Mexican chocolates are included, and each is used to accompany the spirits. The chocolates have received international awards, though the specific awards are not listed in the tour details.

The chocolate pairing gives the experience a wider appeal. If one person in your group is excited about mezcal and another is more interested in sweets, both have something substantial to enjoy. The chocolates also give you a useful way to compare texture, sweetness, cacao character, and how each piece works with a particular pour.

I like this format because it connects two products that are important to Mexican food culture. You learn about the care involved in making artisanal mezcal, then apply the same attention to the chocolate. The result is more thoughtful than a standard bar tasting, but it remains relaxed and social.

The five chocolates also keep the tasting from becoming repetitive. You are not simply sipping five spirits in a row. Each new combination gives you another reason to pause and compare.

Shamira’s hosting is a major part of the value

Shamira is the host named most often in the experience details, and her role goes well beyond pouring drinks. She explains the agave plant, production methods, flavor profiles, and the cultural meaning of mezcal and chocolate. She also adjusts the level of detail to suit the group.

That flexibility is useful. Someone who knows very little about mezcal can get clear background without feeling lost, while an experienced drinker can ask more specific questions. The English is described as fluent, and the tone is friendly rather than stiff.

Her local knowledge adds another benefit. She has offered restaurant and breakfast recommendations to people after the tasting, including a tip for breakfast tacos that was especially well received. That is a nice extra, but it should not be the main reason you book. The core experience is the guided tasting itself.

The host also makes room for people who do not drink alcohol. One group included a non-drinker who received organic coffee and fresh juices and still enjoyed the session through the aromas, food, stories, and group atmosphere. This does not turn the activity into a nonalcoholic tour, but it means one non-drinker in your party should not automatically rule it out.

A private patio in La Veleta

The meeting point is in La Veleta, at Zona Novec, 9 Sur between Calle 6 Sur and 4 Sur, Tulum, Quintana Roo. The experience begins and ends there, so you are responsible for reaching the address. A cab is a practical choice if you are not staying nearby.

The setting is a private home with a decorated outdoor patio. That can feel more welcoming than a busy bar, and the small space suits a session built around conversation. You may also pick up a few decorating ideas, since the patio has been described as charming and carefully arranged.

There is a tradeoff. A home setting does not have the obvious signs of a conventional tour venue, so read the meeting instructions carefully and look for the host outside. The activity is in a residential part of Tulum, not in a major hotel or public attraction.

The patio is also a useful reminder that this is an intimate food and drink session, not a sightseeing tour. You will not be moving around Tulum or visiting an agave farm. The appeal is the explanation, the tasting sequence, and the direct connection with the host.

Is $89.61 a fair price?

At $89.61 per person, this is not the cheapest way to have a mezcal drink in Tulum. You are paying for five pours, five chocolates, a cocktail, traditional snacks, instruction, and roughly two hours of personal attention.

I think the price is fair if you want to understand what you are tasting. Five mezcals can become a blur when served without context. Here, the agave types, production methods, food pairings, and regional background give each pour a reason to matter.

The value is also stronger for couples and small groups who would otherwise spend an evening ordering separate drinks without learning much about them. You get a guided comparison and a chance to ask questions throughout the session.

The calculation changes if you only want a large amount of alcohol or a fast tasting. This is a measured experience, with the focus on flavor and education. It is best for people who care about how mezcal is made and want to sample carefully rather than simply drink quickly.

Some people have also purchased bottles after the session. That option can be tempting once you understand what you like, but the bottle purchase is not included in the stated price. If you plan to bring mezcal home, check your airline and baggage rules before buying.

Who will enjoy this most?

This tasting suits first-time mezcal drinkers especially well. You can arrive knowing almost nothing and leave with a basic understanding of agave varieties, production, flavor profiles, and food pairing.

It also works for experienced mezcal drinkers who want to compare artisanal examples and try combinations that may not appear on a regular bar menu. The chance to taste citrus, cacao, grasshoppers, and chocolate alongside the pours adds a playful element.

Couples, food-focused friends, and families with adult participants are a natural fit. The setting encourages conversation, and the small group allows plenty of time for questions.

Families should note that the activity centers on alcohol, even though most people can participate and service animals are allowed. Children or non-drinkers may enjoy the cultural and food aspects, but the experience is primarily designed around mezcal tasting.

I would skip it if you dislike alcohol entirely, are uncomfortable with a home-based setting, or want a broad tour of Tulum. This is a focused tasting with a local host, not a general introduction to the entire city.

Booking, timing, and practical details

The activity lasts about two hours and is offered in English. The maximum group size is 10, which is small enough for personal attention without requiring a private booking.

It is commonly booked about 18 days in advance on average. That does not guarantee that every date will sell out, but it is a useful reason to reserve early if your Tulum schedule is fixed.

You receive confirmation at booking, and the ticket is mobile. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time. Cancellations made within 24 hours are not refunded, and changes during that period are not accepted. The cut-off follows local time.

Wear something comfortable for a relaxed patio setting, and plan your route before leaving. Since the activity returns to the meeting point, you can schedule dinner or another plan afterward, but allow a little time for transport from La Veleta.

Should you book the Artisanal Mezcal and Fine Chocolate Tasting?

I would book this if you want a personal, food-centered experience that explains what makes Mexican mezcal different from a generic smoky liquor. The combination of five mezcals, five chocolates, seasonal cocktail, citrus, traditional snacks, and agave stories gives the two hours real substance.

The strongest reason to go is Shamira’s direct, flexible hosting. She makes room for questions, local recommendations, unusual pairings, and non-drinkers in the group. The main caution is that the experience takes place at a private home in La Veleta, so it will not suit anyone expecting a polished commercial venue or a sightseeing excursion.

For curious drinkers, chocolate lovers, and anyone who wants more than a quick sample, $89.61 is a reasonable price. Book it early, arrange your ride to the meeting point, and arrive ready to taste something unfamiliar.

FAQ

How long does the mezcal and chocolate tasting last?

The experience lasts approximately two hours.

How much does the experience cost?

The listed price is $89.61 per person.

How many mezcals will I taste?

You will taste five different mezcals made from different types of agave.

Is chocolate included?

Yes. The tasting includes five different fine Mexican chocolates paired with the mezcal.

What food is served with the drinks?

The menu includes a seasonal mezcal cocktail, citrus, artisanal chocolates, spicy peanuts, cacao, and grasshopper snacks.

Where does the experience begin and end?

It begins at Zona Novec, 9 Sur between Calle 6 Sur and 4 Sur, in La Veleta, Tulum. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

Is the tasting offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the experience are not accepted, and the amount paid is not refunded.