Thousands of years ago, Mayan kings sipped a fabled chocolate potion called kakao, or the drink of the gods, which they believed to possess powerful revitalizing abilities. Today Eric Durtschi strives to keep that legend alive, elevating hot chocolate to artisanal heights. Inspired by the mystique and grandeur surrounding the storied beverage, he calls upon his lifelong intrigue of all things culinary and scientific to concoct Crio Brü's signature chocolate drink, forged purely from ground, roasted, natural cacao beans. The drinks, which brew like coffee, are named after one of the world's rarest cocoa varieties and pressed from beans grown in lush regions across the globe, including Papua New Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, and Madagascar. Thanks to their abundant antioxidants and natural energy-boosting stimulants, the beans deliver a hefty dose of health benefits, helping to fortify the heart, digestive system, and bones. Crio Brü complements its trademark beverage with gourmet hot-cocoa mixes, artisan chocolates, and brewing supplies, such as french presses or eye droppers that harvest the tears of chocolate bunnies. To help support rainforest conservation and responsible farming practices, Crio Brü sources the organic beans for its Vega Reál flavor from the Loma Quita Espuela Foundation, an organization devoted to protecting wildlife in its eponymous nature reserve in the Dominican Republic.