Shifting
the narrative
CACAO IS MORE THAN JUST AN INGREDIENT FOR CHOCOLATE.
More than a superfood. More than a passing wellness trend. It’s a living tradition, a complex product of nature and a cultural cornerstone spanning continents and centuries.
Truly embracing cacao requires a broader perspective, one that acknowledges its botanical and economic realities, celebrates its culinary, medicinal, and ritual uses, and respects the diverse cultures that have shaped its story.
This means deepening our understanding and investing in meaningful education about cacao’s many dimensions. This means giving a voice to farmers and producers, people at the source of cacao.
Cacao has been made invisible, it's time to put it back into the spotlight.
_EXPLORINGTHE DEPTHSOF CACAO
WORKING TO UNVEIL ITS POTENTIAL
Cacao is a world of history, culture and craft.
Our work is dedicated to unveiling its richness—through research, education, trainings, and hands-on collaboration with those who
bring cacao to life.
Whether you’re a barista refining your skills, an institution moving the lines, a maker exploring new origins, or a storyteller looking to share cacao’s depth and complexity.
Unlocking the Potential of Cacao
_FACETS
Purpose
Before anything else comes our purpose, and it is very clear: to bring cacao back into the spotlight.
Cacao carries centuries of history, traditions, and knowledge—yet much of this is still overlooked or misunderstood. We’re here to change that. To spread awareness of cacao’s remarkable diversity, chemical intricacy, potential health benefits, and deep cultural roots.
Cacao Insights serves as a bridge between the many “islands” of the cacao world—linking traditional knowledge with scientific research, producers with users, and culture with commerce.
CACAO
INSIGHTS
OUR STORY
Cacao Insights was born from Mathieu & Romane’s deep desire to understand the intricate world of cacao — a multifaceted plant hiding many layers of understanding, unspoken attributes and overlooked properties.
In 2019, already immersed in the bean-to-bar movement, the two founders tasted what they assumed was a refined hot chocolate at Chocoa in Amsterdam—only to discover it was an Origin Cacao drink. That moment marked a turning point. What started as a simple tasting opened the door to a deeper exploration of cacao’s many layers: its aromas, history, cultural significance, and its distinct effects on both mind and body.
Romane and Mathieu officially launched Cacao Insights as a research project in 2021. But over time, it became clear that its purpose reached beyond research: it was about advocating for a more complete and equitable narrative around cacao.
By 2025, Cacao Insights has grown into much more than a research initiative. It’s now a trusted platform offering knowledge, resources, and expertise across the cacao world.