Artisanal Mezcal and Fine Chocolate Tasting

Mezcal and fine chocolate make an unlikely but excellent team. In Tulum, Shamira leads you through five different mezcals, matching each pour with chocolates, citrus, spicy peanuts, cacao, and even grasshoppers. The tasting also opens with a seasonal cocktail, so you get a friendly start before the serious sipping begins.

I like the small-group format, capped at 10 people, because it gives you room to ask questions and compare flavors without being rushed. I also like the cultural side: Shamira explains agave types, production methods, and the legends around mezcal, rather than treating the drink as just another vacation shot.

The main consideration is location. You meet in a residential part of La Veleta, at the host’s home and patio, not at a large downtown tasting room. That setting feels personal and inviting, but you should plan your ride carefully and expect a relaxed two-hour tasting rather than a quick bar stop.

Key points at a glance

• Five mezcals with five fine Mexican chocolates: Each pairing helps you notice how agave, smoke, sweetness, spice, and texture change from one pour to the next.
• A seasonal welcome cocktail: The opening drink changes with the time of year, giving each visit a slightly different first taste.
• Shamira’s clear, flexible hosting: She adjusts the conversation to the group and speaks English fluently.
• Traditional snacks beyond chocolate: Citrus, spicy peanuts, cacao, and grasshoppers add salt, heat, sourness, and crunch.
• An intimate La Veleta patio: The setting is a private residential space with a decorated outdoor area, limited to no more than 10 participants.
• A useful cultural lesson: You learn why agave type matters, how artisanal mezcal is made, and what separates it from industrial bottles.

Why this Tulum tasting is more than a drink flight

Many mezcal tastings begin and end with a line of glasses. This one tries to explain what is in those glasses and why each one tastes different.

Mezcal is made from agave, but not from one single plant. Like grapes in wine, different agave types bring different aromas and flavors. The production also varies by region and producer, giving you a better reason to pay attention than simply asking which pour is strongest.

Shamira gives you that background while you taste. The result is a lesson you can enjoy at the table, with chocolate and snacks making the details easier to notice. You are not expected to arrive as a spirits expert. The experience is designed for curiosity, including the kind that begins with I know almost nothing about mezcal.

The tasting has earned a perfect five-star rating from 132 reviews, with 100 percent recommending it. Those numbers do not tell you if you personally enjoy smoky spirits, but they do point to a very consistent strength: the host and the way she presents the tasting.

Arriving in La Veleta and settling onto the patio

The meeting point is ZONA NOVEC, 9 Sur between Calle 6 Sur and 4 Sur, in La Veleta, Tulum. The activity ends at that same point.

This is a useful detail because the experience takes place in a residential area rather than a conventional restaurant or hotel bar. The outdoor patio has been described as decorated, secure, and inviting. It gives the tasting a personal feel, with Shamira welcoming you into a space prepared for a small group.

I would treat the meeting point as something to confirm before leaving your hotel. The instructions give a precise address, and the practical advice is simple: take a cab if you need one, arrive at the stated point, and look for the host outside. Do not expect a tour bus, a marked storefront, or a large commercial venue.

That residential setting is both a benefit and a possible limitation. It feels more like being invited into a local host’s tasting room, which suits the relaxed tone. If you prefer a polished bar with a public entrance and a busy room, this will feel different.

The seasonal cocktail sets the pace

The first pour is a mezcal cocktail. It is a welcome drink rather than one of the five main mezcals, and its recipe changes with the seasons.

That small touch matters. A cocktail gives you an easy starting point before you begin comparing straight pours. It also keeps the opening from feeling overly formal. You can settle in, meet the host, and get a first sense of mezcal in a mixed drink.

The changing recipe means you should not book this expecting one fixed cocktail menu. The seasonal element is part of the appeal, but the exact drink is not specified in advance. If you have strong preferences, ask Shamira about the ingredients when you arrive.

From there, the tasting moves toward the spirits themselves. The sample menu lists Espadín mezcal and Silvestre mezcal, along with additional pours that bring the total to five. Each one is served with a food pairing intended to help you spot differences in aroma and flavor.

Five mezcals, five chocolate pairings

The heart of the experience is the flight of five mezcals and five Mexican chocolates. The chocolates have received international awards, but the more important point for you is how they work at the table.

Chocolate can soften a sharp edge, bring out sweetness, or make smoky notes easier to identify. Tasting the mezcal first and then trying the chocolate gives you a simple way to compare the two. You do not need special vocabulary. Notice what changes in your mouth after each pairing.

The tasting also gives you a chance to compare agave varieties and production styles. Shamira explains how the plant is harvested and how the liquor moves from agave to bottle. She also covers the cultural background, legends, and standards tied to mezcal’s denomination of origin.

That context turns the flight into more than a sequence of samples. By the end, you can understand why two mezcals made in different regions or from different agaves may smell and taste nothing alike.

The experience is especially useful if you have bought mezcal by choosing the most attractive label or the strongest alcohol percentage. Shamira explains how to identify authentic mezcal and what to look for when buying a bottle. One participant bought a bottle to take home, though that purchase required checking a bag, so plan ahead if you intend to shop.

Citrus, peanuts, cacao, and grasshoppers

The food pairings are not limited to sweets. A citrus plate brings sourness and freshness. Spicy peanuts add salt and heat. Cacao gives you another bitter, earthy note to compare with the chocolate.

Then there are grasshoppers, a traditional Mexican snack that may test your sense of adventure more than the mezcal does. They are served as an optional part of the tasting, and one pairing was described as garlicky and spicy. You do not have to pretend they are familiar food. You can try one, decide it is enough, and keep enjoying the rest of the menu.

This is one of the better details of the experience because it connects the drinks to Mexican eating customs. It also keeps the tasting playful. The snacks are not filler placed beside the glasses. They show how salt, acid, spice, and crunch can change the way mezcal tastes.

If you do not drink alcohol, you can still take part in the social and educational side. Shamira has provided organic coffee and fresh juices for a non-drinking participant, and she used the aroma of mezcal as part of the experience. The tour is built around tasting, so a non-drinker should mention that preference when booking or arriving, but the setting can accommodate someone who wants to join friends without drinking.

Shamira’s teaching style makes the difference

Shamira is the central reason this works as a small-group experience. She speaks English and brings both product knowledge and a personal interest in mezcal and chocolate. Her style is friendly rather than stiff, and she leaves room for questions about Mexico as well as the drinks.

The strongest praise focuses on her ability to adjust the session. If your group wants more production detail, you can ask about harvesting and bottling. If you are new to mezcal, she can keep the explanation clear. If you already know spirits, you can spend more time on flavor profiles and authenticity.

That flexibility is useful because a tasting can easily become too technical or too shallow. Here, the aim is to make the information stick. You may learn about agave cultivation, production steps, regional differences, and the cultural role of mezcal without sitting through a long lecture.

Her local suggestions are another bonus. She has given practical food advice, including breakfast taco recommendations. That is not a formal part of the tasting, and you should not book it as a food tour, but it can help you plan the rest of your time in Tulum.

Two hours in a group of no more than 10

The activity lasts about two hours. That is long enough to taste five mezcals, work through the chocolate pairings, eat the snacks, and hear the main story of the drink without turning the session into an all-day commitment.

The group limit is 10 people. A small group makes a real difference here because tasting depends on conversation. You can ask why one mezcal smells smoky, why another feels sweeter, or how to read a bottle label. You also have a better chance to hear the explanation clearly than you would in a crowded public bar.

The pace is relaxed, but this remains an alcohol tasting. You will sample several mezcals, so eating beforehand is sensible even though snacks are included. The menu is substantial enough to make the session feel like a light food experience, but it is not presented as a full lunch or dinner.

You may also want to leave space in your schedule afterward. The tasting takes about two hours, and you should not plan a rushed activity immediately after it. The exact effect of five pours varies from person to person.

Is the $89.61 price fair?

At $89.61 per person, this is not a budget drink stop. The value comes from the combination of five mezcals, five fine chocolates, a cocktail, traditional snacks, instruction, and a small group.

You are also paying for access to a host who can explain what you are tasting. Buying five pours at a bar might cost less or more, but it would not necessarily include the agave lesson, production story, chocolate pairing, or guidance on authentic bottles.

I see the price as reasonable for someone who wants a focused cultural food experience rather than a night of casual drinking. It is less appealing if you only want a large glass of mezcal or a quick introduction before heading elsewhere.

The experience is also a good value for couples and small groups who would rather spend two hours talking and tasting than joining a large party activity. The setting, personal attention, and unusual snacks give it a character that a standard bar flight may lack.

Who should book this experience?

I would choose this tasting if you like chocolate, spirits, food traditions, or the story behind what you eat and drink. It suits curious beginners especially well because you do not need previous mezcal experience.

It also works for people who already enjoy agave spirits and want to compare several types in one sitting. The discussion of artisanal production and bottle authenticity adds value beyond basic tasting notes.

Couples, families with adult participants, and small friend groups are a natural fit. A non-drinker can join, although the activity remains centered on mezcal and should be approached with that in mind.

I would hesitate if you dislike smoky spirits, are looking for a full meal, or prefer a public tasting room over a private patio. The grasshopper snack is optional, but the alcohol and small residential setting are core parts of the experience.

Booking, timing, and practical details

The experience is offered in English and uses a mobile ticket. Confirmation arrives at booking, and it is often reserved about 18 days ahead, so do not wait until the last minute if your Tulum dates are fixed.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The group maximum is 10. The meeting point is in La Veleta, and the activity returns there when finished.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Within 24 hours, you should expect no refund, and changes made inside that window are not accepted. Cutoff times use local time in Tulum.

Should you book the mezcal and chocolate tasting?

Book it if you want context with your cocktails. The best parts are Shamira’s personal teaching, the five-mezcal comparison, and the thoughtful mix of chocolate, citrus, spice, cacao, and optional grasshoppers.

The experience is not the cheapest way to have a drink in Tulum, and the residential meeting point may require a cab. But for two hours of small-group tasting, cultural background, and unusual pairings, the $89.61 price is defensible.

If you are curious about mezcal but unsure where to start, this is an easy choice. If you already know you dislike agave spirits or want a full meal, spend your money elsewhere. For everyone in between, it offers a relaxed and memorable way to understand what is in the glass.

FAQ

Where does the mezcal and chocolate tasting take place?

It starts at ZONA NOVEC, 9 Sur between Calle 6 Sur and 4 Sur, in La Veleta, Tulum, Quintana Roo. The activity ends at the same meeting point.

How long does the experience last?

The tasting lasts approximately two hours.

How much does the experience cost?

The listed price is $89.61 per person.

How many people can join the tasting?

The group can have a maximum of 10 participants.

How many mezcals will I taste?

You will taste five different mezcals.

Are chocolates included?

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

What food is served with the drinks?

The menu includes citrus, spicy peanuts, cacao, grasshopper snacks, traditional Mexican snacks, and artisanal chocolates.

Is a cocktail included?

Yes. The experience begins with a mezcal cocktail, and the recipe changes with the seasons.

Is the experience offered in English?

Yes. The tasting is offered in English, and the host, Shamira, speaks English.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded, and changes inside that period are not accepted.