Chocolate

The Royal Gipuzcoan Company of Caracas played a crucial role in the origin of this tradition, facilitating the import of cocoa and other products from overseas. This company was a chartered monopoly company established in 1728 by royal decree to promote trade between Spain and the Venezuelan province of Caracas, with a particular focus on safeguarding Spanish commercial interests and curbing illegal trade, especially by Dutch vessels in the Caribbean region.

By the beginning of the 20th century, Gipuzkoa already had numerous chocolate manufacturers, including Chocolates Guereca in Oñate, Chocolates Elgorriaga in Irun, Casa Maitena in San Sebastián, Chocolates Orbea in Oñate, and Chocolates Adarraga in Hernani. The industrialization of the production process allowed chocolate to go from being an exclusive product to one accessible to many families.

Although the history of chocolate in Gipuzkoa has been linked to male names, women played a fundamental role. At the Elgorriaga factory in Irun, for example, most of the workers were women, valued for supposedly having colder hands, which was crucial for working with chocolate.