Shifting
the narrative
CACAO IS MORE THAN JUST AN INGREDIENT FOR CHOCOLATE.
More than a cash crop. More than a superfood or 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.
SHAPINGTHE FUTUREOF SPECIALTY CACAO
WORKING WITH THE SECTOR, FOR THE SECTOR
Cacao does not evolve through isolated initiatives, but through alignment.
Our work sits at the intersection of producers, makers, researchers, brands, institutions, and educators.
Whether supporting a single project or facilitating multi-stakeholder dynamics, we engage with cacao as a living system that requires structure, dialogue, and long-term vision.
Spreading a broader and better understanding of cacao.
_FACETS
Purpose
Before anything else comes our purpose: to foster a deeper, fuller cacao narrative.
_ Preserving cacao’s biological and cultural diversity.
_ Improving livelihoods at origin through value creation.
_ Democratizing access to pure origin cacao drinks.
_ Upholding cultural recognition and social ethics.
_ Promoting agriculture that respects ecosystems and long-term balance.
That is why we do what we do.
We believe in a future where cacao is not only tasted, but truly understood.
Not only bought, but valued.
Not only consumed, but celebrated.
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 2026, 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.