'ANCIENT ORIGIN' ARRIBA NACIONAL

The origin of our cacao that we refer to as ‘ancient origin' organic heirloom cacao comes from an established group of generational farmers in the heart of Ecuador, and is the esteemed wild old growth heirloom Arriba Nacional genetics. Considered the rarest and most prized cacao in the world for flavour and nutritional variety, this bean makes up a fraction of 1% of cacao, and is only found in the jungle region of Ecuador. With a genetic lineage that dates back over 5,000 years in Ecuador, it is the first known variety to be cultivated by humans.

We value and preserve the source of our heirloom cacao in a personal relationship spanning over a decade of incredible consistency and integrity, in one of the most bio available regions on Earth. This source is met with the highest standards of cultivation, and is a leading source of cacao for a multitude of reasons. The trees from this ‘ancient origin' cacao are anywhere from 20-200 years old, and we have seen first hand a tree that was 160 years old that yielded beautiful pods. The trees have been cultivated in rich volcanic soils, rain and natural springs, and pristine jungle. The plants utilize deeply matured rooting systems that connect to the living waters to draw up minerals from the rich soils. This makes the nutritional properties that aid in heart health and circulatory benefits go well beyond most cacao available.

The source we use only ever minimally processes heirloom cacao pods into cacao beans, keeping the integrity of what the cacao has to offer us. The cacao beans are hand peeled and skillfully fermented on site to preserve bio availability and preventing any exposure to heavy metals, mycotoxins and mold, which is critical for the integrity of what we are creating. 

We keep the true essence of the cacao with minimal processing, stone grinding with granite, focusing attention and detail to minimal temperature and duration of our grinding process, and creating a (not raw, but un-roasted) fine finish chocolate filled with flavour and nutrients in tact.

This is not farmed or plantation cacao (which makes up over 95% of chocolate). Does not support deforestation (it is grow in in the jungle and many hours away from the closest paved roads). Or is part of any unjust labour, being beyond fair trade with wages 3- 4 times average wages. This is a holistic system centered around one of the most beautiful and nutritious plants in the world. And we stand behind how this wild plant is being offered, with as little 'human' intervention or destruction as possible.

Our trusted source supersedes all standards of quality and our intention is to honour the quintessence of cacao and all it has to offer.