A year ago, it was suggested that I write an article about the newly opened, charming cacao bar in La Paz, Katkow, on Belisario Dominguez street. Cacao or chocolate is deeply rooted in ancient Mexican traditions and culture, and despite this fact, KatKow is the first and only cacao shop in town.
On the other side of Mexico, in Playa del Carmen, where I used to live, cacao stores and bars were frequent and as popular as going to a coffee shop. In these bars, you can order either hot or cold beverages made with real chocolate; cacao is also added in various products such as granola mixes, ice cream, cakes, or even high-quality cosmetics.
Even today, some people from these parts of Mexico continue to carry ancient traditions around cacao, hosting social and spiritual gatherings known as cacao ceremonies. These ceremonies, often in nature, on the beach around a fire on the new moon or full moon, attract both locals and the rich expat community of Playa del Carmen.
Besides its cultural connection and taste appeal, cacao is a nutritional powerhouse, rich in antioxidants, particularly flavonoids, which combat oxidative stress and inflammation, and is a mood enhancer. Cacao cultivation requires high humidity and tropical conditions that Baja lacks, making it more prevalent in the southern states of Mexico, such as Chiapas, Tabasco, Oaxaca, Guerrero, and even Yucatan and Quintana Roo, where I was.
My connection with cacao started in Ontario, Canada, where my friend used to offer me cacao as a source of energy on hikes, and this connection deepened and grew in Playa de Carmen. Finding a cacao bar in La Paz, I was both excited and intrigued about how this ancient form of currency made its way here in 2024.
According to owner Antonio Diaz, his store exists today because of one woman’s dedication and passion for cacao, his wife, Jaazania. It was during a vacation in Tepoztlan, a small town located in the state of Morelos, in 2021, that Jaazania first got inspired to create an “alcohol-free cacao bar”. She describes her experience in Tepoztlan as being magical, nestled in a valley surrounded by lush mountains where you can find cacao in everything, “her ideal world”.
Jaazania shared that she had developed a deep connection to cacao during her pregnancy with her first daughter. She recalls never being a fan of sweet, commercial chocolate products growing up, and since her pregnancy, she has been drawn to the more bitter, tart taste of traditional recipes. Her visit to Tepoztlan opened her eyes to the depth of possibilities the cacao industry offers, proclaiming to Antonio, who was far less enthusiastic at the time, that she wanted to bring the magic of cacao to La Paz.
As couples often do, the pair agreed to compromise; Antonio would consider the project once Jaazania presents him with a business proposal addressing some of his concerns about sourcing the raw material and developing the skills required to operate, manage, and grow successfully in the cacao industry.
Two years later, that conversation and this project were long forgotten for Antonio, unaware that his wife had never abandoned her dream. In 2023, Jaazania caught him by surprise and presented a compelling proposal to her husband, providing solutions to his concerns. This led them to Chiapas for a course in the art of cacao and traditional chocolate making in November of that year, followed by the opening and successful operation of KatKow in 2024.
KatKow is housed in a charming high-ceilinged heritage building close to the cultural center of La Paz. You can paint on ceramic items, read a book, or enjoy a sober date while sipping on their different cacao products, including beverages, desserts, and ice cream. They source their cacao directly from a farm in Chiapas and other ingredients from within Baja when possible. They also offer workshops to educate on the history, importance, and health benefits of cacao, as well as chocolate-making workshops. During these workshops, you’ll get the opportunity to try fresh cacao fruit and learn how to roast and process the fermented beans into chocolate. KatKow is open daily from 7:30 am to 2 pm and 4 pm to 10:30 pm except Sundays.
Antonio, whose background is in construction, could not be happier today when asked about the decision to transition into the cacao industry. While he takes care of the daily operations and acts as your friendly neighborhood cacao-bar tender, Jaazania told me that she is building the business horizontally, intending to launch more cacao-related products in the future. I appreciate the work KatKow is doing to promote and educate this Mexican heritage, and I invite you to visit their location and taste the magic of cacao. – Naailah Auladin for more on my work: www.naailahauladin.com or reach me on WhatsApp at: +52 612 141 8002
Naailah Auladin is a life and relationship doula in La Paz, specializing in guiding individuals and families during periods of emotional trauma, crisis, and mental unrest. She focuses on teaching and inspiring individuals to take responsibility and ownership in participating in their civic duties, focusing on the well-being of the self-first, as she believes that fostering and maintaining well-managed emotional, mental, and physical health is our first civic duty. ,
