About Us

I’m Alexander, and alongside my wife Walki, we’re the husband and wife team behind Guatemala Trading Company, a family-run chocolate and spice business rooted in Guatemala and brought to life in Minnesota.

Our Journey and Background

Walki comes from a long line of Guatemalan farmers. Her mom grows chile peppers, her aunt tends vanilla vines, and her extended family has been connected to the land for generations in Cobán. I grew up in Minnesota with a passion for food, storytelling, and sustainable living. We met through our shared love of agriculture and hands-on work, and together we built something that blends both of our worlds.

What We Make

We grow our own cacao on a small farm in northern Guatemala, with over 1000 trees and counting. We start the chocolate making process in our home there, grinding the beans ourselves. Then we bring the chocolate to Minnesota where we temper and package each bar in our own kitchen.
The vanilla is grown by Walki’s aunt and extracted by us. The chile powder comes from her mom’s harvest. Other products are sourced from small family farms we know personally, people who put the same care into growing as we do into crafting.

Why We Love Chocolate

We’re drawn to chocolate because it tells a deeper story. It reflects place, time, and the people behind it. The first time we tasted real single origin chocolate, it hit us like a memory. It was bold and rich and unlike anything from the grocery store. We knew we had to make it ourselves.
Over time, we figured out how to build and adapt equipment, roast beans with precision, and bring out unique notes like wine, papaya, or rum. It became more than a product — it became part of our life.

What We Believe

We do everything ourselves, from planting to packaging. We grow organically on restored land that hadn’t seen fertilizer or chemicals in decades. Our ingredients are all 100 percent USDA organic, including the sugar, milk powder, and cacao butter.
We believe in doing things right even if it takes more time. We value trust, real relationships, and honest work. Our goal is simple — to bring you something worth sharing.

Thanks for supporting our family, our farm, and our dream. Welcome to Guatemala Trading Company.