_PROJECTS

Exploring Cacao’s DIversity

Developing Cacao Skills & Knowledge

Sharing Cacao Insights

_PROJECTS

Consulting, R&D

Tastings, Talks

Interested in our services or in developing a project with us?

REFRAMING

CACAO

Our commitment to knowledge and collaborations

Since 2018, we’ve dedicated time, rigor, and passion to curating projects that reveal cacao’s many overlooked facets—history, botany, cultural heritage, diversity and complexity.

Through this work, we aim to contribute to a broader shift in how cacao is perceived, bringing its hidden stories and nuances back into focus, and facilitating accessibility to Origin Cacao.

Each project we take on is both a labor of love and a necessary step toward enriching cacao literacy—bringing us closer to our purpose with every initiative.

Browse through some of our past and current projects for a glimpse into our contribution.

CACAO PROFILES

Exploring cacao's diversity

Cacao Insights’ initial and ongoing pursuit is to experiment with various Origin Cacaos to try and understand what impacts their differences in taste and effects.

An effort that serves two purposes:
→ Sharing an empirical and subjective approach aimed at mapping out the market’s offer while shedding a light on important distinctions between cacaos,

→ Creating a baseline study which helps linking causes to consequences, meaning here, how one or more slight changes in criteria ranging from genetics, terroir and steps in the making process are responsible for significant differences in aromas expression and induced physiological effects.

The vision is to share and spread cacao’s diversity and complexity, so we can help shift its related narrative from a single-taste commodity to a rich entity providing an experience on its own, in the likes of fine wine, craft beer or specialty coffee.

Our profiles are set as collection of articles — sorted by makers, origin country, aromatic profile and effect profile — and are accompanied with in-depth interviews from the makers. They are presented as thorough product sheet providing insights on each step of the process (i.e. genetics, terroir, cultivation methods, post-harvest techniques, transformation methods) as well as detailed aromatic and effect profiles.

TRAININGS

Developing cacao skills & knowledge

Mastering cacao comes from both knowledge and practice. To truly understand it, one must explore its intricate history, science, and cultural significance while refining the technical skills needed to work with it—from understanding flavor dynamics to crafting the perfect cacao-based beverage.

Our trainings are designed for professionals who seek to deepen their cacao knowledge and develop hands-on expertise with cacao drinks, ensuring a well-rounded mastery of cacao.

BRANDS & PRODUCERS

We’ve worked with numerous brands and producers of Origin Cacao, as well as with craft chocolate makers. Here’s a non-exhaustive list of the tasks we performed and projects we developed:

  • Profiling Cacao: establishing aromatic and bioactive profiles, linking inherent qualities to cultivation methods, transformation practices and cacao genetics.

  • Quality supervising: Analyzing and testing different batches of Origin Cacao, quality feedback, improvements suggestions, follow up on subsequent batches.

  • Development strategy: aligning storytelling and product line, content creation, establishing a positioning, photography, developing a visual identity.

EVENTS

We designed and hosted events for pros and individuals.

  • Tasting sessions: introducing participants to the method of sensory tasting and guiding them through the complexities of Origin Cacao & bean-to-bar chocolate.

  • Introduction to Origin Cacao: 1 to 2 hours discussion and exchange around cacao, accompanied by a guided tasting.

  • Cacao Bar: serving Cacao Drinks made with a selection of high-grade Origin Cacaos.

  • Talks