El Platanal 70%

Chulucanas is a name chocolate lovers should familiarize themselves with, as it is rapidly emerging as one of Peru’s pre-eminent cacao-producing regions. Acalli Chocolates sources the cacao for this chocolate from the community of El Platanal, which is nestled in a dramatic river valley on the arid western slopes of the Andes. With a reliable supply of water and a more humid micro-climate created by the steep valley walls, cacao thrives in this unlikely landscape. The El Platanal co-operative counted 54 socios at the time of Acalli’s visit in 2014, of which, 14 were women. Most producers here are first-generation cacao farmers, which makes the quality of their cacao that much more remarkable. El Platanal markets its cacao through the Norandino co-operative, a second-tier organization based in the city of Piura that handles export, oversees quality control, and offers technical assistance on all aspects – ranging from agronomy to fermentation. Bean Origin: Community of El Platanal, Chu