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From pop star to chocolate champion, the journey of Carlos Giha is a testament to adaptability and a keen eye for opportunity. In the late 1990s, Giha was a rising musical artist in Peru, known for upbeat tracks like “Follow my rhythm†and heartfelt ballads such as “If we had spoken.†His energetic performances, complete with enterprising choreography, established him as a local star. Though, this period coincided with a meaningful economic crisis in Peru, making a career in the arts a challenging pursuit, as Giha himself acknowledges, “that’s what I got.â€
Despite his success, Giha’s heart wasn’t solely in performing. He enjoyed sports and socializing, viewing singing as a hobby. He often used the shower as a rehearsal space, where he conceived the chorus for “Follow my rhythm.†His true ambition lay in the world of business. After studying Economics in the United States, he returned to Peru and worked in his family’s textile business in Gamarra, selling fabric. He’d occasionally break into song while working, entertaining colleagues as he cut and sorted materials. This innate desire to perform ultimately led him to recording studios and television sets.
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Giha’s departure from music wasn’t sudden, but a gradual response to the crippling effects of piracy. The illegal copying of music decimated an already fragile industry. He transitioned to the business side of music,establishing a studio and recording other artists,but the pervasive piracy eventually undermined his efforts. “piracy killed everything,†he recalls. Without lingering nostalgia, he returned to the family business, where a new idea began to take shape: investing in a high-quality Peruvian product.
El Ganso 70%, with floral notes of jasmine and honey, was recognized as the best chocolate in the world at the International Chocolate Awards 2025. (Photo: Giancarlo Shibayama)
For years, Giha considered investing in a valuable Peruvian product, initially thinking of pima cotton. However, he increasingly heard about the growing cocoa industry and the positive impact it was having on small farmers in the Amazon. He traveled to regions like San MartÃn, JunÃn, and the high jungle, speaking directly with producers. “I have lived it: I have seen how people have progressed by planting cocoa,†he says. He realized the key wasn’t the machinery, but the knowledge. He invested in understanding genetics, fermentation, and drying—caring for the bean before it even reached the factory. This led to the creation of Cacaosuyo, with a bold ambition: “We are going to make the best chocolate in Peru.â€
The recognition came swiftly. Cacaosuyo’s chocolates began winning awards, including a gold medal in the milk chocolate category in 2015 and later, a prize for dark chocolate. Than, in 2025, came the ultimate accolade: at the International Chocolate Awards, “El Ganso 70%†—made with cocoa from JunÃn—was crowned the Overall Winner, the highest honor in the global chocolate industry. Cocoa from Amazonas, Cusco, Piura, and now JunÃn have all earned top honors for Peru.
“That award is what gives you the right to say that you make the best chocolate of all,†Giha states matter-of-factly. He emphasizes that these aren’t special,contest-only batches. “We send the same chocolates that we sell to the contest.We don’t make a different one to compete.†He believes luxury should be accessible: “not everyone can buy the most expensive diamond in the world, but they can buy the best chocolate in the world.â€
Cacaosuyo is committed to its new launches such as Petychoqs,aimed at expanding its national and international market. (Photo: Cacaosuyo)
Giha has been likened to Willy Wonka, the imaginative chocolatier from Roald Dahl’s stories, a comparison he finds amusing but modestly dismisses. While he’s seen all the film adaptations with his daughters, Gene Wilder’s version remains his favorite. His factory in Ate, he explains, is a functional space, focused on quality production rather than fantastical elements like chocolate rivers. He once considered creating a more elaborate, family-amiable experience, but realized it required significant capital. For now
