The aromatic Chipotle chillies used in our Luxury Dark Chocolate Mexican Bar start out life as green jalapenos, which are left to grow until they turn dry & take on a lovely shade of dark red. The chillies are then transferred to wood-burning chambers for several days in order to absorb smoke & remove any remaining moisture. The farmers are then finally left with these wonderfully smoky mild chillies which are transported all across Mexico to be used in a whole range of traditional sauces, including Salsa & Adobo.

Most Chipotle chillies are actually produced in Chihuahua, which sits on the country’s northern border with the US & is also the biggest state in Mexico. Chihuahau literally means ‘the place where the rivers meet’ – the rivers being the Chuviscar and the Sacramento, which flow from Colorado & California respectively. Chihuahua is a vast state which contains an incredible variety of environments, flora & fauna. The state is home to great forests & mountains, Copper Canyon – which is officially larger than the far more famous Grand Canyon (see right), the fascinating crystal caves of Naica Mountain & the wide Chihuahuan desert. Oh yes, Chihuahua is also apparently where those strange little dogs originate from too!