ZORZAL PRINCIPLES
Set in the magnificent mountains and valleys of the Cordillera Septentrional, this is the first-ever cocoa-producing conservation reserve in the Dominican Republic.
This lively farm works in perfect harmony with the more than 1,000 acres of private habitat, creating the best cocoa in the region and giving the rare migratory songbirds that share the trees something sweet to sing about.
A MEETING PLACE FORCOCOA AND PRESERVATION
We work with Cacao del Bosque and local producers to implement organic farming principles and support ongoing conservation efforts for the reserve, Bicknell's thrush and other endemic bird species.
Through ongoing training in best practices, we increase production responsibly and support the region economically, while enhancing the biodiversity of this precious ecosystem.
AMELONADO & TRINITARIO
Plots 2 to 9 are divided into micro-lots to provide chocolatiers with a specific clone or combination of fermented clones according to their needs.
The majority of plots 2 to 9 have been planted with grafted trees, including clones named after Mata Larga (the local experimental cocoa station) and clones from Imperial College Selection (ICS) in Trinidad and United Fruit (UF) in Costa Rica.
COCOA IN VIETNAM
Cocoa in Vietnam is currently enjoying an impressive renaissance. Although the country has never been a major exporter of cocoa, it was first introduced in the late 19th century.
Most cocoa is grown along the Mekong delta, which is extremely fertile and productive. Farmers in the region form fermentation groups. One farmer is designated to have the fermentation facility on his farm, and he buys wet cocoa from surrounding smallholdings.
At its peak, there were as many as 12 or more groups, each containing 30 to 40 farmers. Today, only about 5 of these groups remain.
MAROU
A special region in the Mekong Delta is Tien Giang. Covering approximately 2,000 hectares, it is made up mainly of small farms of less than one hectare each.
Tien Giang is located in the northern part of the Mekong Delta, starting from the Cho Gao district. Around 15 years ago, chocolate manufacturers began to show renewed interest in the region's cocoa. Vietnam-based Marou Chocolate led the charge.
They began working with farmers throughout the region in search of a reliable source of high-quality cocoa.
TIEN GIANG - VIETNAM
Tien Giang is the gateway to the Mekong Delta. It seems that everything grows in the rich alluvial soil - dragon fruit, longan, star apple, mango, guava and of course cocoa.
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