A tipi, a solstice, and four single-origin chocolates
In June 2026, around the summer solstice, Moksha Chocolate brought a small group of guests to Balto Farms in Boulder, Colorado for an evening of bean-to-bar chocolate tasting and ceremonial cacao. The setting was the farm's canvas tipi, surrounded by open land, lavender, and the kind of golden-hour light that makes everything feel slower and more intentional.
It was a small, intimate gathering. The kind where people actually talk to each other, slow down, and pay attention to what's in front of them.
That's exactly the point.
The Game of Four: a guided mystery tasting
The centerpiece of the evening was Moksha's Game of Four, a guided mystery chocolate tasting built around four single-origin bars. Guests received a tasting sheet with flavor notes for each origin and tasted through the lineup blind, comparing what they noticed against what the cacao actually expresses.
For guests who had never tasted single-origin chocolate before, the differences were immediate and surprising. The Tanzania and Ecuador bars sit at similar percentages but taste nothing alike. That contrast is what makes the format work.
The four chocolates for this tasting:
- Kokoa Kamili Dark Mylk 65%, Tanzania. Tamarind, tropical fruits, cinnamon, spice. A milk-style bar with more complexity than most guests expect.
- Semuliki 70%, Uganda. Fudge, caramel, bananas, pineapple, vanilla. Fruit-forward and approachable, with a long finish.
- Itenez 80%, Bolivia. Earthy, loamy, roasted coffee, cocoa powder, raisin. The darkest bar of the evening and the one that tends to surprise people most.
- Cecao 70%, Ecuador. Caramel, honey, warm spices, apricot. Smooth and balanced, a crowd favorite.
Moving through four origins back to back makes the differences between them impossible to miss. By the end of the flight, guests who arrived thinking chocolate was chocolate left with a completely different understanding of what origin, percentage, and process actually do to flavor.
Ceremonial cacao and a solstice intention
Alongside the chocolate tasting, guests were invited into a ceremonial cacao experience with a solstice intention. The group gathered together, set a shared intention for the season, and sipped cacao as a way of marking the moment. It was quiet, grounded, and unhurried. The kind of thing that's hard to replicate in a conference room or restaurant.
Ceremonial cacao is prepared differently from a chocolate bar. It's made from whole cacao paste, prepared as a warm drink, and meant to be sipped slowly. For guests who had never tried it, the contrast with the tasting bars was striking. Same plant, completely different experience.
Why the farm setting made it work
Balto Farms is a working Boulder farm with lavender fields, a farm store, wool, and a canvas tipi that changes the pace of any event the moment guests arrive. There's no conference room energy here. No agenda pressure. Just land, light, and a table set for something worth paying attention to.
For this kind of tasting, the setting is part of the experience. Guests aren't just tasting chocolate. They're somewhere that makes slowing down feel natural.
The evening ended at golden hour, with the tipi lit by the long summer light and guests still talking through what they'd tasted.
The group
The evening was small by design. Around ten to fifteen guests gathered inside the tipi, seated together around the tasting. Intimate enough that everyone was part of the same conversation. The energy was relaxed and curious, the kind that happens when people are given something genuinely interesting to focus on together.
Bring this experience to your group
Moksha Chocolate is based in Boulder, Colorado. Private tastings can be built around the Game of Four, ceremonial cacao, or a combination of both. They work well for corporate retreats, client appreciation events, wedding weekends, birthday gatherings, and private farm dinners. The format is flexible. The chocolate is the constant.
If you're planning a private event in Boulder or the surrounding Colorado area and want a tasting that feels like it belongs somewhere, this is it.
A few details that help when you inquire:
- Preferred date or season
- Approximate group size
- Event type
- Preferred location (farm, private venue, office, or other)
- Interest in take-home chocolate gifts
Inquire about a private chocolate tasting
Frequently asked questions
What is the Game of Four?
The Game of Four is Moksha's guided mystery chocolate tasting format. Guests taste four single-origin bars with a tasting sheet and compare flavor notes across origins, percentages, and processing styles. No prior chocolate knowledge needed.
What is ceremonial cacao?
Ceremonial cacao is made from whole cacao paste and prepared as a warm drink. It's different from hot chocolate and different from a chocolate bar. Moksha's ceremonial cacao is sourced and prepared to highlight the natural flavor of the cacao itself.
Where is Moksha Chocolate located?
Moksha Chocolate is based in Boulder, Colorado. Private tastings are available in Boulder and the surrounding area, including farm venues, private homes, offices, and event spaces.
Can we request Balto Farms as the venue?
You can mention Balto Farms in your inquiry. Farm-based tastings depend on date, season, group size, and partner availability. Moksha will help confirm what's possible.
How long does a private tasting take?
Most private tastings run 60 to 90 minutes. The format can be adjusted based on your event.
Can guests take chocolate home?
Yes. Take-home chocolate gifts can be added to any private tasting. Browse the full Moksha collection to see what's available, or mention gifting in your inquiry.
Is this a good fit for corporate groups?
Yes. The Game of Four gives a corporate group something structured to do together without feeling forced. It works especially well for teams that want a local Boulder experience that isn't another happy hour.
