Original Beans has been actively involved in the conservation of this rare source of 100% wild cacao for several years. Now, genetic research has shown that this ‘original bean' is a distinct endemic variety, genetically independent from all known cacaos. Extraordinarily, the cacao grows on “chocolatales” or “cocoa islands” dating back to a pre-Columbian civilization. During the wet season, the expert collectors from several indigenous tribes go out, for weeks at a time, in canoes to collect the wild beans in spots only they know about. The wild beans are so small that they require specially modified roasting.

66% Bolivian cocoa