Cocoa of excellence: Promoting diverse high quality cocoa origins
Project Dates: October 2009-March 2011
Countries: International
Funders: Common Fund for Commodities, Barry Callebaut, Belcolade, Mars, Inc. and World Cocoa Foundation
Supervisory Body: International Cocoa Organization
Project Implementing Committee: Bioversity International (project executing agency), Barry Callebaut, Belcolade, Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement, Cocoa Producers’ Alliance, Cocoa Research Unit of the University of the West Indies, Event International, Mars, Inc. and World Cocoa Foundation
Overview:
The project aims to contribute towards the greater diversification of cocoa markets through the identification and characterization of high quality cocoa origins. The project will develop the International Cocoa Awards to be presented at the 2010 Salon du Chocolat in Paris for high quality cocoa origins. This award will serve as the basis for developing a Cocoa of Excellence award system.
Program Objectives:
- To create awareness among producers and other operators in the national and international cocoa supply chain on the opportunities of high quality cocoa differentiation.
- To provide global recognition for the producers and “terroirs” of high quality cocoa origins.
- To expose chocolate manufacturers and experienced consumers to the spectrum of flavors that exists in cocoa from different origins.
- To facilitate linkages between producers of quality cocoa origins and manufacturers of specialty chocolate products.
- To stimulate, through the institutionalization of the Cocoa of Excellence event, the capacity of producing countries to search for, to evaluate and to produce specialty cocoa types.
Main Activities:
- Identification and acquisition of samples of promising cocoa origins
- Production of cocoa liquors and chocolates and evaluation of cocoa liquor samples by an international expert panel
- Cocoa flavor diversity celebration and attribution of awards at the Salon du Chocolat
- Establishment of the global Cocoa of Excellence platform
Progress to Date:
- Event held at 2009 Salon du Chocolat. A small-scale Cocoa of Excellence event was held at the 2009 Salon du Chocolat featuring 40 samples from seven countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Selected flavor categories were: cocoa aroma, sweetness, and five flavor descriptors (fruity, floral, nutty, spicy, woody). Venezuela, Ecuador and Trinidad had the greatest number of samples in the top 10 of each category. Trinidad led in the fruity and sweetness categories; Bolivia in the spicy, woody and floral categories; Mexico in the spicy category; and Peru in the cocoa aroma category.
- Preparations Underway for 2010. The first, full-scale Cocoa of Excellence event will be held at the 2010 Salon du Chocolat in October. Approximately 235 entries from 31 countries covering all major growing regions are expected.