SOURCING
LA COLONIA, NICARAGAUA
The story of the great people of La Colonia, Nicaragua exemplifies the incredible impact cacao can have on rural communities around the world. For years these farmers were exploited for their cacao and never truly understood the value of what they possessed. The team at Enliven understood that the only thing standing in the way of the community prospering was opportunity and support. This led to them immersing themselves within the community to be better equipped to help organize, support, and empower the community to create sustainable change through their fine cacao. With 100% of the money from the cacao going back directly to the communities, it’s contributed to them building paved roads and an internet cafe, which only scratches the surface of their potential!
Located in Tanzania (Kilombero Valley), the small village of Mbingu is home to Kokoa Kamili, a central fermentary. Before their presence, cacao farmers only had access to one central buyer in the region, which resulted in low wages. Now, these farmers make the difficult journey here to sell their wet cacao for premium prices. By soley focusing on the fermentation and drying process of cacao, Kokoa Kamili is able to achieve high level of consistency and therefore, generate higher compensation to farmers.
KILOMBERO VALLEY, TANZANIA
SOCONUSCO, MEXICO
The Soconusco region has a very rich history with cacao that dates back nearly 4000 years & is where the Ancient Mokayas first domesticated cacao for consumption in Mexico. During the Colonial Era, it is believed that the first chocolate brought over to California was from this region. Today, the Rayen Co-Op is responsible for continuing the rich legacy of high quality cacao production in this region. The member-owned and operated Co-Op consists of a group of talented and motivated individuals, who are passionate about preserving the ancient heirloom cacao varietals on their land & putting fine Mexican cacao on the map.
Located on the Ucayali River in Peru, the small Amazonian town of Pucallpa is home to this incredible cacao. Until recently, this region did not have a reputation for its cacao, but rather its dangerous cocaine production. With the rise of Ucayali River Cacao, local farmers now have an avenue to sell their wet cacao for premiums. As a result, this operation is able to produce an extremely high quality cacao, while enhancing the lives of the surrounding region.
