Visit a cacao farm

“It's the first Vietnamese word I asked for after arriving at the farm. The owner doesn't speak much English, so I wanted to express my reaction in his own language. Vui means happy. It's the word that goes along with the feeling you get when you see the abundant greenery working in your favor, the cacao trees lining the path and the mango trees neighboring the house on Azzan's plantation. You immediately forget about the half hour it took to arrive from the city. [...] Taste the deep, sweet flavor of a sun-warmed mango you peeled with your own hands; refreshing soursop, a piece hacked off for you after waiting in the fridge for your arrival. The sweat drips down your lower back, but you can't bring yourself to care because the bright smile on your face rivals the sunny weather.”

“When I actually visited the plantation, I found that the cacao plant is much more profound than I had imagined. There were many discoveries that could only be made by seeing with your eyes, touching with your hands, and smelling with your senses that could never be conveyed in books or other materials. For example, the leaves of the cacao plant were thinner and more delicate than expected, and easily swayed in the breeze. And the sight of small flowers blooming directly from the trunk was so unique that it overturned my concept of plants. The importance of temperature, humidity, and time management during the fermentation and drying processes was also emphasized, and I realized how much time and effort goes into creating the flavor of cacao.”

“During our visit, the vinegar was sprayed on our bodies as well, so the smell of vinegar lingered with us throughout our walk around the farm, and my companion and I spent the rest of the time laughing about it. Although the vinegar may have been effective in repelling insects, it did not stop the onslaught of mosquitoes, and we ended up getting dozens of bites as a result. In the end, we found ourselves in a state of 'the inspection team fighting the itch while surrounded by the smell of vinegar,' an experience that we had to laugh at.”