vanuatu, Malekula island

bean source: Gaston Chocolate

Flavor profile: Tobacco, Molasses, dried fruit

PRICE PAID IN 2025: $13.00/KG

FARMGATE PRICE: $4.95/KG

Over the years, our search for exceptional cacao has led us on some unique adventures and connected us with lifelong friends. Many years ago, we had a chance meeting with an Australian man named David. He had been doing development work throughout the South Pacific, specifically working with small shareholder cacao farmers. This chance meeting led to Adam and his wife traveling to the Solomon Islands to be part of a panel of cacao judges for a country-wide cacao contest. This was our first encounter with cacao from that region of the world, and we were amazed at the quality and uniqueness of the cacao there.

That experience has always stayed fresh in our minds and kept us dreaming about sourcing cacao from some of the most remote islands in the world. Several years passed, and we became good friends with David. He continued to work with cacao producers, especially growers in the small country of Vanuatu. Cacao in the country had been planted as far back as the 1800s, but much of it was not considered fine or flavor grade. David began working alongside local chocolate makers to improve the quality of these old Amelonado genetics. They built a small fermentation facility and started purchasing wet cacao from farmers in the surrounding area at a fair and sustainable price.

This cacao has a unique and wild character, with deep and complex flavor notes underpinned by an almost tobacco-like intensity. We are among the first chocolate makers to tinker with this origin, and we look forward to sharing it with you.