WCS collaborated with the Association of Cacao Producers of the Lecos People of Larecaja (Chocolecos) in the export of cacao beans to El Celler de Can Roca restaurant, in Girona, Spain. It is an important achievement of the marketing strategy 'bean to bar' of high quality dry cacao beans, seeking for niche markets that recognize in the products of the Greater Madidi Landscape, their contribution to conservation and sustainable livelihoods of local communities. The cacao crops are produced under agroforestry systems, in an area of 33 hectares, in the southern limit of the Madidi National Park, preventing the advance of the agricultural frontier for the production of annual crops, contributing to the conservation of biodiversity.
The producers of Chocolecos - winners of the 2017 International Cacao Award held at the Salon Du Chocolat in Paris – last March this year sent a microlot of 300 kg of cacao to El Celler de Can Roca restaurant, for a value of Bs12. 381.00 (US$ 1,778.87). Their chocolatier, Damian Allsop, previously performed tests with the cacao confirming the excellent quality of the beans in terms of aroma and flavor.
The cacao crops come from wild relatives, and are produced by women and men producers from eleven communities of the Lecos Larecaja Indigenous Territory. Cacao fermentation and drying employ innovative techniques that ensure a homogeneous and controlled processing, under WCS technical assistance.
This first experience of selling cacao to the restaurant El Celler de Can Roca represents an important milestone for the producers of the Chocolecos association. The worldwide reputation of this restaurant, with three Michelin stars, gives even more prestige to the cacao produced by the Chocolecos. With the recent inauguration of the 'casa del cacao' (the chocolate house), Jordi Roca, one of the three famous brothers and owners of the restaurant, will be fully dedicated to the production of chocolates. The Amazonian cacao from northern La Paz will be one of its basic ingredients, placing it once again among the best in the world.