Peru 65% Dark Chocolate Bar, Ucayali River Estate

Single Origin 65% Peru Dark Chocolate

Tasting Notes: We taste mocha and tart cherries

Cacao Bean Origin: Peru, Ucayali River Estate

Source of Beans: Meridian Cacao

Note from John:  The beans used in our Peru bar are some of the last beans available from the Ucayali Estate in Peru.  They are also some of our favorite beans that we've tasted to date.  Many cacao producers are closing their doors due to the devastation of deforestation and soil degradation in the Ucayali River region.  The producer of these beans stopped production and has not provided a timeline for when more may be available.  In the future, we will continue to source beans from Peru as they are some of the most flavorful, least astringent flavor profile beans due to the terroir of the Amazon region.

The former Ucayali River Cacao is located near Pucallpa, Ucayali, Peru

Ucayali River Cacao partnered with USAID and Alianza Peru to give local farmers access to an alternate market to cocaine. Working with around 400 smallholder farmers with one to three hectares of land each, Ucayali River Cacao purchased wet cacao at a premium price, then centrally fermented and dried it. Credit: Meridian Cacao