Direct Sourcing

COLOMBIA
Hacienda Betulia, located east of Medellín, was named Colombia’s most innovative cocoa farm by the Federación Nacional de Cacaoteros in 2018. After years of research and experimentation, the Swiss-Colombian family business succeeded in bringing its vision of a Colombian Criollo with rare and complex flavours to life. The hacienda combines modern methods with a strong commitment to sustainable farming. Its approach includes scientific soil analysis, genetic testing of cocoa varieties, sustainable agricultural practices and a carefully developed fermentation process.

NICARAGUA
Our cocoa beans come from northern Nicaragua, including the regions of Jinotega and Matagalpa. There, Ingemann works with a network of more than 1,000 cocoa producers, providing them with access to the international market. To make it possible for even small farming families to be part of this network, Ingemann collects the freshly harvested cocoa directly from the farms. This allows producers to focus on growing and caring for their cacao trees, while Ingemann takes care of the post-harvest process and controls fermentation from the very beginning. Together with the Inter-American Development Bank, Ingemann also launched the Adapta project, designed to help cocoa and honey producers in Nicaragua make their farms more resilient to the effects of climate change.

GHANA
Our cocoa beans from Ghana come from ABOCFA, an Organic and Fairtrade certified cooperative based around Suhum in the eastern part of the country. Today, its network brings together more than 1,000 cocoa farmers who share a commitment to producing high-quality cocoa while improving livelihoods in their communities. Part of the Fairtrade premiums goes directly to the farmers, while the rest supports community projects. These include improving rural infrastructure, providing access to clean drinking water and offering financial support to women and young people. Protecting children and tackling child labour are also key priorities for the cooperative.

MEXICO
In the Mexican state of Chiapas lies Cacahoatán, whose name comes from Nahuatl and translates roughly as “place of cacao”. Cacao has a long history in this region, dating back to pre-Columbian times. Beyond being valued as food and drink, it also played an important role in social and religious life and was even used as a form of currency. Our cocoa beans come from Finca La Rioja, founded by Moisés Mugüerza in 1904 and still run by his family today. Among the cacao grown on the farm is Carmelo, known for its pale beans and distinctive fruity notes with subtle hints of tobacco.