We are less than 24 hours away from embarking on a day full of recognition, celebration and opportunity for 50 cacao producers who are about to found out if they will go on to recieve a Gold, Silver or Bronze Award for their exceptional cacao.
Since first receiving some 222 cacao bean samples from 52 origins at the Cacao of Excellence R&D Laboratory in Rome, Italy in February of 2023, the Best 50 of these samples have come a long way.
These beans reflect the hard work, expertise and passion of the producers who cultivated them. They also reflect the immense genetic and flavour diversity that comes through Cacao of Excellence's doors, every Edition. This diversity and superior quality tell us that origins, and sometimes, unexpected ones, have great potential for excellence.
Below, we present you the with the Best 50 nominees who are up for a Gold, Silver or Bronze Award and in advance the whole team at Cacao of Excellence congratulates all producers who submitted samples and is thrilled to reveal the 2023 cacao producers of excellence tomorrow, February 8th, 2024 both in-person at Chocoa online on our Cacao of Excellence Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cacaoofexcellence and Cacao of Excellence Youtube channels https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClmRznVnzQ6Xq-5QNx4ZfYA
Africa and the Indian Ocean
| Origin | Producer Name Town, Region | Producer Type | Original Sample ID |
|---|---|
| Cameroon | Unité Moderne de Production du Cacao d’Excellence UMOPROCAOE - Sebastien Ateba Mveng Mvong, Nguinda Minfolo, Centre | Coopérative | CMR-01 |
| Congo, Dem. Rep. of | CACAO OKAPI - Mungamba Ituri Province | Coopérative | RKLTDRC001 |
| Congo, Rep. of | Moïse Lantoum Pokola, Departement de la SANGHA | Producteur individuel | CR01 |
| Côte d’Ivoire | N'Dri KACOU Leleble, Taabo, Agneby tiassa | Producteur individuel | E1TAA |
| Ghana | Daniel Nti Samreboi, Western | Individual producer | GH02 |
| Ghana | Emmanuel Takyi Ofoasekuma, Eastern | Individual producer | GH03 |
| Ghana | Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana Box 8, New Tafo, Eastern | Research station | GH06 |
| Nigeria | Ehimika Emmanuel Egbeta, Ovia | Individual producer | FQN 94 |
| Nigeria | Okongor Obasi Biajua, Boki, South South | Individual producer | FQN 83 |
| Tanzania | Kokoa Kamili - Women's Lot Chiwachiwa Village, Mbingu Ward, Morogoro Region | Other | 1 |
| Togo | ETSONENYO - Komla Yebo Tove ati, Kpalime, Plateaux ouset | Coopérative | CoEx-TG-2023N0013 |
| Togo | SCOOPS IKPA - Komi Aziague Itimogo, Plateaux-Ouest | Coopérative | CoEx-TG-2023N0054 |
| Togo | Kossi Guezere Dentey Kopé, Plateaux-Ouest | Producteur individuel | CoEx-TG-2023N0058 |
Asia and the Pacific
| Origin | Producer Name Town, Region | Producer Type | Original Sample ID |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | Will Lydgate and the Lydgate Farms Ohana 5730 Olohena Road, Kapa'A | Private estate | HWCOEX23-LF-004 |
| Hawaii | Green Farms Hawaii 94-840 Lanikuhana Avenue, Mililani, Hawaii 96789 | Private estate | 7 |
| Hawaii | Maui Kuia Estate - Reserve Lahainaluna Rd, Lahaina,West Maui | Private estate | N002-20S |
| Indonesia | P.T. Ebier Suth Cokran Cooperative Jl. Warsui RT.03/RW.01., Abreso, Manokwari Selatan, Papua Barat | Cooperative | 02.22.2.165 |
| Indonesia | PT. Perkebunan Hasfarm Sukokulon Pondok Dalem Subdistrict, Semboro, East Java | Private estate | 02.22.2.0142 |
| Indonesia | Koperasi Kakao Kerta Semaya Samaniya Nusasari, Melaya, Bali | Cooperative | 02.22.2.148 |
| Malaysia | Mispari Ramli No.6, kg. sungai limau, Sungai besar, Selangor | Individual producer | COEX-2023-002 |
| Philippines | Saloy Organic Farmers Association Purok Pag asa, Barangay Saloy, Davao Region XI | Producer association | PCQA2022-027 |
| Taiwan | His Hsien Lai Niu Jian Wan Duan, Wanluan Township | Individual producer | T010 |
| Taiwan | Chung Sheng Chen Ai-Liao Village, Neipu Township, Taiwan | Individual producer | T008 |
| Thailand | Beantobar Chanthaburi Co., Ltd. 45013, Klongnarai | Other | Chanthaburi |
Central America and the Caribbean
| Origin | Producer Name Town, Region | Producer Type | Original Sample ID |
|---|---|
| Costa Rica | Chocolatera del Volcan 1,5km Oeste de la escuela, El Progreso, Alajuela | Finca privada | 5SM |
| El Salvador | Rafael Moisés Ochoa Pinto Varsovia, La Libertad, Central | Productor/a individual | IVCOEX035 |
| El Salvador | Cristiani Burkard S.A. de C.V. – Finca Las Vegas Nuevo Tepetitán, Tepetitán, Región Central del país | Productor/a individual | IVCOEX018 |
| Guatemala | Itzam Kakaw/Cacao Verapaz S.A. Finca San Luis,Cahabón, Norte | Otro | CACAOVERAPAZSA |
| Guatemala | Kampura S.A. km.305.5 carre a Peten, caqui creek, Izabal | Private estate | KAMPURASA |
| Jamaica | Pure Chocolate Jamaica & Body Estate Toms Hope, Fellowship, Portland | Individual producer | JA-103-23 |
| Martinique | Valcaco - Jean-Michel Marie Fond cany, 97214 Le Lorrain, Martinique | Association de producteurs | 34 |
| Mexico | Juan Carlos Velazquez Bautista Ejido Malpasito, Huimanguillo | Productor/a individual | 1 |
| Nicaragua | Sajonia Estate Coffee S.A Abisinia, Region IV | Finca privada | Sajonia |
| Puerto Rico | David Valentín Carretera 433, km 102, San Sebastián, NorOeste | Individual producer | Sample 5 |
| Puerto Rico | Hacienda Terruño JS Rd. 802 km 5.5 Int., Naranjito, Caribbean | Private Estate | Sample 3 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Stephanie Omardeen Madamas Rd Braso Seco Paria, Paria | Individual producer | 424488636 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Shankar Teelucksingh 300A Granville Village, Granville. Mile Mark 1 Granville Road., Granville- Cedros cluster, Trinidad | Individual producer | 34926354287 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Doolarie Ramdath 351 Rio Claro Mayaro Rd, Ecclesville, Rio-Claro | Individual producer | 36334126835 |
South America
| Origin | Producer Name Town, Region | Producer Type | Original Sample ID |
|---|---|
| Bolivia | Asociación de Recolectores de Cacao Silvestre Yuracaré - ARCASY Chimore, Calle Habitat s/n entre Av. El Estudiante, Chimore, Provincia Chapare, Municipio de Chimore, ARCASY | Asociación de productores/as | M18-CBBA-CHI-MC-CSA |
| Bolivia | Cooperativa Brecha "T" - Martin Sipe Gutierrez Comunidad Brecha "T", Alto Beni | Cooperativa | M39-LP-AB-MC-MSG |
| Brazil | Miriam Aparecida Federicci Vieira Sítio Alvorada/km 75 da rodovia Transamazonica Sul, Medicilândia, Pará | Individual producer | 47 |
| Brazil | Luciano Ramos de Lima São Sebastião Farm, Ilheus, Bahia | Individual producer | 56 |
| Brazil | Robson Brogni Sítio Ascurra/Rodovia Transamazônica, km 70, Sul, Medicilândia, Pará | Individual producer | 17 |
| Colombia | WORKAKAO Cooperativa Multiactiva Nodo Agricola Cacaotero Santa Ana, Guamal, Meta | Cooperativa | FEDE007 |
| Ecuador | Hacienda San Jose Via Babahoyo - mata de cacao km 9.5, Babahoyo, Costa | Finca privada | MC2970 |
| Ecuador | Pieandino Chocolates - Alfredo Cuadro Guerrero Av. Antonia de la Bastida, Montalvo, Los Rios | Productor/a individual | CN2843 |
| Peru | Asoc. Productores Agropecuarios Valle Nazangaro de vizcatan del ene-vraem, distrito vizcatan del ene - Carmen Montes Taipe Centro poblado de las palmeras naz, La convencion, Junin | Asociación de productores/as | ASOC.PA |
| Peru | Juan Laura - The Chocolate Farmer: Liliana Laura Vila Pichari alta s/n. finca nueva esperanza, Pichari, Cusco | Asociación de productores/as | PICHARI |
| Peru | José Luis Perez Figueroa Chaupimayoc letra c, Cusco, Cusco | Productor/a individual | 502 |
| Venezuela | Kattah Borhorquez Sector Tres Esquinas, Comunidad Vuelta Redondo, Parroquia Urdaneta, Occidente | Productor/a individual | Apu-27-Ve |
