Origine Dark 70% : Pérou

Rio Caribe Superior cacao grows in agroforestry, in which cacao trees are intercropped with other crops. This agricultural system promotes biodiversity and forms a buffer zone protecting remaining forests and the national park, Península de Paria Growing cacao helps to protect the natural environment while giving farmers an opportunity to earn an income. Venezuela Rio Caribe Superior is from Trinitario and Criollo varieties. The beans are low in acidity, and have an intense and strong chocolaty body with sweet, nutty and floral hints. Consistent application of protocols during harvest and postharvest results in an outstanding quality, labelled as ‘superior’. After manual picking, the farmers bring the wet beans to a central fermentation unit, where they are fermented for 6 or 7 days in wooding boxes, with controlled turning based on temperature.

Cacao on Garyth farm grows in a sustainable agroforestry system, which helps to protect plant and animal life in the area, including the rich biodiversity of the TumbesChocó Magdalena national park. This park is one of the top 25 world biodiversity hotspots and stretches over 3 countries. While the biodiversity is relatively intact in Colombia and Peru, it is highly threatened in Ecuador because of deforestation and monoculture farming. Garyth’s approach to cacao production is a shining example of how well nature and farming can live together in harmony. As a passionate and knowledgeable organic farmer, Thomas has introduced various natural systems to protect his trees and crops from diseases and to stimulate pollination and healthy growth of the cacao pods. In 2019 his hard work was rewarded with organic certification. Finca Garyth Nacional cacao has a complex and mild profile dominated by wild tropical flavors, floral notes

Plateaux Region is renowned for its beautiful natural environment with tropical forests and natural waterfalls. However, tree cover has diminished considerably over the last decades, resulting in land degradation and loss of biodiversity. Forests were cut due to slash and burn agriculture. Also, wood is an important energy source most households cook their food on it. Interestingly, cacao and coffee cultivation is an important protection for Togolese forests. Farmers grow these crops traditionally under the canopy of natural forests, sometimes intercropped with other crops, a socalled agroforestry system. Because their livelihood depends on it, farmers have a big incentive not to cut down trees. On the contrary, they protect the forests from further degradation and – as a consequence – help to preserve biodiversity. This cacao has a fullbody with pleasant chocolate tones, low acidity, herbal and woody hints, and coconut and almond flavour notes.

For the past hundred years, almost all of the thousand Polynesian Vanilla growers have no longer prepared their own vanillas (drying); they pick them and sell them to the few preparers active in the territory. The result is that each preparer obtains vanilla from at least one hundred planters spread out over the entire archipelago. All of the vanilla from the various plantations and islands are thus mixed together and prepared at the same time. Once the notion of terroir was abandoned, the vanillas were no longer distinguishable. Only fruit which has reached full maturity(dark brown color) is selected, a selection process identical to that used with grapes for “Vendanges Tardives ” and the “Sélections grains nobles” fines Alsace wines. This very late harvesting process, unique in Polynesia, makes it possible to enhance the taste and aromatic qualities of Tahitian Vanilla.