The Association of Ecological Producers of Native Cacao of the Leco Larecaja Indigenous People (CHOCOLECO) was awarded a prize for the high quality of cacao bean submitted to the prestigious 2017 edition of the International Cocoa Prize, organized by the Cocoa of Excellence (CoEx) program, which took place at the Salon du Chocolat in Paris. Ximena Sandy led the WCS team that accompanied the entire production process under agroforestry systems and technological innovations along the productive chain, leading to the international recognition of this cocoa as one of the best in the world. This is also part of a strategy to reduce the advancement of the agricultural frontier by creating incentives for forest conservation, maintenance of wildlife corridors, protection of habitat for more than 200 species of bird and headwater conservation.
Of the 50 preselected cocoa samples out of a total of 163 presented by 40 producing countries, 18 were awarded after being processed in chocolate and subjected to a sensory analysis by 41 chocolate experts, including Chocolecos cocoa. The final grade obtained was: slightly acid fruit aroma, with notes of walnut and soft dry fruit. Chocolate flavor, with notes of lemon and ripe pineapple.
At the time of award ceremony, Régis Bouet, judge of the International Cocoa Awards, made the following commendation to David Piloy Ayala, the President of the Association: "I am proud to award this prize to the 'Chocoleco' of Bolivia. I have had the chance to taste their cocoa, which makes it possible to elaborate a good chocolate, with intense flavor, long in the mouth and unusual, I would be very happy to work with these cocoa beans! "