If you think mezcal is all the same, this will change your mind. This 2-hour artisanal mezcal and fine chocolate tasting brings you through five distinct mezcals made from different agave types, each paired with Mexican chocolate and snacks. I love the way the host connects flavors to the agave plant, and I love the pairing concept that turns chocolate into a tool for understanding mezcal. One possible drawback: you’re drinking several pours in a short window, so if alcohol is a hard no for your day, you’ll want to plan accordingly.

The setting is also part of the appeal. You meet in La Veleta (Zona Novec) and the experience is held at the host’s place, on a decorated outdoor patio that feels friendly instead of formal. The host, Shamira, delivers the education in clear English and adjusts the pace based on what your group wants to know. Just remember it’s a small-group format (max 10), so it can feel like a sit-down experience—great for conversation, not ideal if you want a quick walk-through.

Key Highlights at a Glance

Five mezcals sampled side by side so you can actually compare agave flavors

Chocolate pairings that match each pour, including award-winning fine Mexican chocolate

Small-group attention with Shamira guiding tastings in English

Agave history and production explained clearly, including how mezcal fits Mexican culture

A seasonal mezcal cocktail welcome to start the tasting off in a fun way

Why Mezcal and Chocolate Belong Together in Tulum

Mezcal and chocolate sound like a stunt at first. Then you taste them together and it clicks. Mezcal carries smoky, earthy notes that can either clash or complement cacao’s roasted flavors. The pairing here is designed to help you notice the difference fast—what changes when the chocolate hits first, when citrus gets involved, and when you switch from one agave type to another.

This also helps you sidestep a common tasting problem. Many tastings pour alcohol and hope you can label the flavors yourself. Here, the structure is built around comparison. You try one thing, then pair it on purpose, then move to the next mezcal. That rhythm makes the lesson stick.

And since this is in Tulum, you’re not stuck in a big tourist hall. You’re in a residential part of town, with a patio setup that’s described as charming and secure. That matters, because it makes it easier to ask questions without feeling like you’re interrupting a production line.

The Exact Tastings: Cocktail, 5 Mezcals, Citrus, Snacks, Chocolate

The tour runs about 2 hours, and the menu is set up to take you from first sip to sweet finish.

Welcome: Seasonal Mezcal Cocktail

You start with a fresh mezcal cocktail. The key detail is that the signature drink changes with the seasons, so it’s not the same generic welcome every time. That’s a fun way to break the ice and it also gets your palate ready for what’s coming.

The Core Tastings: Five Mezcals in Comparison

You then work through five different mezcals. Each one reflects a different agave base, which is where most of the flavor differences come from. You’ll specifically sample:

• Mezcal Espadín
• Mezcal Silvestre

The rest of the set isn’t listed by name in the details you provided, but the consistent theme is clear: you’re tasting multiple varieties and learning how each one presents on the nose and palate.

What makes this valuable is the pairing plan. Instead of treating each mezcal like a standalone shot, you treat each one like a chapter in a story. Each pour has a matching chocolate or snack element that helps you detect the differences.

Citrus Plate and Traditional Snack Pairings

As the tasting moves along, you also get a citrus plate. Citrus is a smart addition because it can brighten flavors and pull out fruit notes you might miss when everything is smoky and dry.

You’ll also get traditional snack pairings, including:

• Spicy peanuts
• Cacao and grasshopper snacks

Yes, grasshoppers. If you’ve been curious but never wanted to try them, this is one of the easiest ways to do it in a guided setting.

Dessert: Artisanal Chocolates With Real Attention

You finish with artisanal chocolates. The details here are a strong selling point: the chocolates have earned international acclaim with prestigious awards. You’ll sample five fine Mexican chocolates, matched to what you tasted earlier.

This is more than dessert. The pairing format keeps you tasting actively rather than passively. The goal is to help you learn what cacao does to smokiness, what it does to sweetness, and what happens when the finish is more bitter, roasted, or fruity.

Shamira’s Small-Group Approach (And Why It Feels Personal)

This experience has a maximum of 10 travelers, and you can feel the difference immediately. In a bigger group, one person’s questions can hijack the timing. Here, Shamira’s style is described as warm and attentive, and she encourages questions while keeping the tasting moving.

Several reviews also mention that Shamira gauges each group’s interest and adjusts explanations. That’s not a small detail. Mezcal can be technical—agave varieties, production methods, and authenticity talk can get heavy fast. If the host can tune the lesson to your curiosity level, you leave with something usable instead of leaving with a blur of facts.

Another bonus: Shamira speaks English clearly, and people specifically note how easy it is to follow along. If you want to learn without fighting a language barrier, this matters.

There’s also a human touch that makes it feel less like a product demo. One person noted that if someone in the group doesn’t drink alcohol, the host provided organic coffee and fresh juices so they could still enjoy the experience. That’s a big win for couples, families, or mixed groups.

Agave 101: History, Legends, and How Mezcal Is Made

You come for the tasting, but you stay for the context. This tour walks through the history and legends of mezcal, plus the production process and cultural background.

Here’s the big idea you’ll take home: mezcal isn’t just a smoky spirit you order because it’s trendy. It’s tied to specific agave types and careful production. The details provided emphasize that mezcal follows strict production standards and has a denomination of origin. That combination—standards plus geography plus agave choice—is what shapes the flavor.

It also helps with authenticity. One reviewer mentioned getting an inside scoop on what percentage makes mezcal authentic, and that changed what they look for when buying bottles back home. You don’t have to become a mezcal expert to benefit. Just knowing the difference between what’s truly mezcal and what’s just mezcal-flavored helps you make better choices later.

And the way the lesson connects plant → process → taste is practical. You’re not memorizing a list for its own sake. You’re learning why Espadín and Silvestre taste different, and why their aromas feel distinct.

The Pairing Game: Citrus, Chocolate, Peanuts, and Grasshopper

Pairing is where this tour earns its value. If you’ve done wine-and-cheese before, you’ll recognize the structure. But the ingredients here are more adventurous, and that’s the point.

Citrus and snack pairings that keep you awake

Citrus plate pairings can act like a reset button. When your palate gets overwhelmed by smoke and alcohol warmth, acidity helps you re-detect flavor. It also makes the tasting feel less like a long series of sips and more like a sequence of taste experiments.

Spicy peanuts + cacao

Spicy peanuts are a smart counterpoint to cacao. You get salty heat and roasted notes that can either underline sweetness or make bitterness feel intentional. It’s also a reminder that Mexican chocolate isn’t always just dessert-sweet. It can lean roasted, slightly bitter, and spice-friendly.

Grasshoppers: surprisingly guided, not thrown at you

Grasshoppers are paired with mezcal and described as having a garlicky, spicy character. Even if you’re squeamish, you’re not forced into a blind jump. You’re tasting it within the context of the mezcal and chocolate pairing, which makes it easier to judge the flavor instead of reacting only to the idea.

If you’re worried about whether this will be too adventurous, don’t overthink it. The experience is set up like a tasting lesson, not a dare. You can decide how much you want to try, but the guidance helps you make sense of it.

Location, Timing, and How to Show Up Ready

You meet at Zona Novec, 9 Sur entre Calle 6 Sur y 4 Sur, La Veleta, 77760 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico. The activity ends back at the meeting point.

The tour lasts about 2 hours, so plan your day like you would for a food tour. Don’t stack it right before something big that requires zero distraction.

Because this is held at the host’s place in a residential part of Tulum town, you should expect a local, home-patio vibe rather than a downtown tasting room feel. That’s part of the charm for many people. It can also mean you’ll want to dress comfortably and arrive a little early to get your bearings.

One practical tip: the tasting involves multiple pours and sweet pairings. If you’re sensitive to alcohol, eat something light beforehand and pace yourself during the tasting. The host will guide the order, but you still control how quickly you swallow.

Is $89.61 Worth It? A Value Check for Taste Lovers

At $89.61 per person, you’re paying for three things at once:

1) Five distinct mezcals (not just one bottle)

2) Fine Mexican chocolate pairings, including award-winning chocolates

3) A guided explanation of agave types, production, and cultural context in a small-group setting

If you price these elements separately, it usually adds up quickly. A typical mezcal tasting might give you a couple pours and a basic explanation. Here, you get comparison across mezcals and structured pairing with multiple chocolates and snacks. That’s what turns it from drinking into learning.

You’re also not competing for attention. With 10 travelers max, the host can explain and adjust rather than rushing through a script for a large room.

One more value factor: the welcome cocktail. That doesn’t sound like a big deal, but starting with a crafted mezcal drink helps you feel the theme right away, and it sets the palate for the comparisons that follow.

Who This Mezcal and Chocolate Tour Fits Best

This is ideal if you want:

• a hands-on tasting that teaches you why flavors differ
• chocolate lovers who don’t want a plain dessert stop
• curious eaters who are open to unusual pairings like grasshopper snacks
• couples and small groups that want conversation and questions answered

It can also work for mixed drinkers. If someone in your group doesn’t want alcohol, the host has been known to provide alternatives like organic coffee and fresh juices, so the experience doesn’t fully shut down for them.

If you’re the type who prefers nightlife over sitting with a host for a couple hours, this might feel more like a class than a party. But if you like food-and-drink culture, you’ll likely enjoy the calm, guided pace.

Should You Book This Mezcal and Chocolate Tasting in Tulum?

I’d book it if you want more than a quick sip. The combination of five mezcals, five fine chocolates, and a host-led explanation creates a tasting you can actually remember and repeat at home.

Skip it (or rethink the timing) if you’re not comfortable with alcohol or you only have time for something light and fast. Also consider that it’s held at the host’s residential patio, so it’s best when you’re okay with a local setup rather than a polished storefront.

If you’re in Tulum and you care about real flavor comparisons, this is one of the best ways to understand mezcal without getting lost in jargon.

FAQ

How long is the Artisanal Mezcal and Fine Chocolate Tasting?

It lasts about 2 hours.

What does the tasting include?

You get a seasonal mezcal cocktail, five different mezcals, citrus and traditional snacks (including spicy peanuts and cacao/grasshopper snacks), and artisanal Mexican chocolates (five different chocolates).

What is the group size?

The experience has a maximum of 10 travelers.

Where does the tour meet?

You meet at Zona Novec, 9 Sur entre Calle 6 Sur y 4 Sur, La Veleta, 77760 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico. The tour ends back at the meeting point.

What language is the tour offered in?

It is offered in English.

Do I need a specific ticket format?

You’ll have a mobile ticket.

Can I bring a service animal?

Service animals are allowed.

Is it suitable for most travelers?

Most travelers can participate.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Do you have to purchase anything during the tasting?

The experience includes an opportunity to purchase special mezcal bottles.

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