Aromatic profile: cocoa with fruity and floral notes
Program created in 2000
1,496 partner growers in 2022
ECUADOR, THE COUNTRY WHERE GOLDEN FRUIT TREES GROW
When we create a program in a country, it is important that we consider its history and adapt to its political and cultural context.
Nacional cocoa, a traditional variety that only grows in Ecuador, is recognized worldwide for its typicality and aromatic intensity. However, when we arrived in Ecuador in 2000, we quickly made the sad observation that Nacional cocoa, part of the country’s authentic heritage, was under threat.
Nacional cocoa, an exceptional variety worth preserving
In partnership with voluntary growers, KAOKA decided to strive to preserve the Nacional variety.
Years of investment in both human resources and funding have enabled us to develop innovative agricultural techniques. The aim? To enable growers to grow Nacional cocoa efficiently and sustainably, and thus move away from growing the CCN51 hybrid variety.
The conservation programme is taking shape, and an overall improvement in quality and productivity continues year on year. This programme has played a vital role in the conservation and promotion of Nacional cocoa in Ecuador.
C’est en Équateur que nous avons initié et développé notre programme de rénovation des plantations. Véritable succès, nous l’avons dupliqué dans nos autres filières.
CECAO, a unique joint ownership model
Building on this joint project, the cooperative evolved in 2013 to form CECAO: an export organisation in which cocoa grower associations are shareholders alongside Kaoka. The result of a strong, long-standing partnership!
Over 20 years of fair partnership with cocoa growers in Ecuador
Top notes
Citrus (lemon-orange)
Fresh fruit (apple-pear) and Nuts (almonds-hazelnuts)
Floral (jasmine-rose)
Heart Notes
Cocoa & chocolate balanced
Base Notes
Woody (liquorice)
Warm tobacco note
Caramel
WATCH A VIDEO ABOUT THE HISTORY OF OUR ECUADOR PROGRAM:
A journey through the Nacional cocoa plantations, which traces the human adventure that we have shared with our partner growers for more than 20 years.
Read the story of Don Vitaliano, a cocoa grower who has been working with us for over 20 years. He was there when we first set up our cocoa program in Ecuador and was one of the first to believe in our plantation renewal project.
‘When Kaoka arrived, they offered us a fixed price, better rates and, above all, long-term cocoa export contracts. In other words, thanks to Kaoka, we have become cocoa growers, processors and exporters. We would never have managed it without the chocolate company Kaoka.’ Don Vitaliano
Key figures
Top notes
Citrus (lemon-orange) Fresh fruit (apple-pear) & Nuts (almonds-hazelnuts) Floral (jasmine-rose)
Heart notes
Cocoa & balanced chocolate
Background notes
Woody (liquorice) Warm tobacco note Caramel
116,000
cocoa trees of the Nacional variety have been distributed to our partner growers since 2018
100%
of the borders of our partner producers’ plantations in Ecuador have been georeferenced and digitised
Zero deforestation
Kaoka relies on a demanding set of standards developed jointly with producer organisations to guarantee zero deforestation cocoa.
Watch the video to discover the story of our Ecuadorian cocoa program:
