We take much time to research, connect and learn where and who our cacao has come from. It is of utmost importance that we resonate with the story and the people and projects of where the cacao has originated from and that we can get as close to its original source as possible.
Communication is vital. Cacao has really hit the mainstream headlines since our friend Liam Browne went onto Dragons Den (UK) and brought the benefits of cacao to the masses.
Africa believe it or not is the main import of cacao, however, we don't get a look in as the commercial chocolate industry is big bucks! So that is why our main source of cacao comes from the other side of the sea!
One day however, i'd very much like to travel and see for myself the cacao farms, see the blossoms on the trees, pick and smell the pds as they are opened to reveal the juicy pulpy flesh inside which protects the beans. To take my children to a place where they can experience this and have the opportunity to work directly with a family farm to bring the cacao back to Mamas, would truly then create 'Mama's Cacao'!.....
My personal favourite is one we source from Peru. A number of reasons.
It has a very feminine energy to it which i love especially when working with it in ceremonies.
I have learnt alot from who we supply it fro and feel the closest to where it originates from.
We value that the Peruvian cacao is;
• Grown on small, family owned plots of land as part of a diverse forest ecosystem. Many of us didn’t grow up as part of a healthy and harmonious extended family, and so it brings us joy to know we are supporting such heart-led communities in our exchanges.
• The families who grow our cacao are able to live entirely from their forests in the central highlands of Peru. To live in such a way is personal dream of our own, and so our growers are a constant and living source of inspiration to us.
• The farmers belong to the first all indigenous cooperative to be founded in Peru, that became the template that future organisations used in creating their own businesses. Many coops around the world are founded and led by people from outside the indigenous communities they employ. We love that this coop was the beginning of a new way of structuring cooperative work in Peru, where all decisions are made by the community, for the community.
• The manager in charge of bean selection, roasting and grinding to paste is a young educated woman, and represents a new generational wave of women taking on leadership within Peruvian cacao production.
Venezuelan Cacao you can read more about it here
Our Ecuadorian Cacao..more to come....!
