SANTA MARÍA CAHABÓN

Guatemala

SHOP THIS ORIGIN

ABOUT SANTA MARÍA CAHABÓN

Perched on a mountaintop overlooking the extensive jungled hills of the Cahabón region

The Association of Integrated Development “OX EEK” Santa Maria Cahabón (ADIOESMAC), founded in 2004, cultivates and sells cacao, cardamom, cinnamon, and chili peppers. The association processes cacao using cascading wooden fermentation boxes and a combination of greenhouse dryers, raised bamboo decks, and drying patios.

The association has continued to plant more cacao every year, mostly of  reforesting areas of “milpa” or corn and bean production, and children of the association members are starting to take over cacao production and processing for their parents.

Learn more about this cacao origin

Cahabón cacao is intercropped with timber, madre de cacao, and fruit trees along 50 hectares. These beans are much larger in size, sometimes called "potato beans" and are more mild in flavor compared to most cacao beans. 

In recent times, they have become the first association in the region to export centrally fermented cacao to U.S. bean-to-bar makers. 

Flavor Profile of Cacao Beans: 

Orange, toasted almond, Oreo cookie

FARMER IMPACT

23

Registered Farmers

615

Average annual revenue per farmer from cacao sold into the UC Network

1.01

Average farm size in hectares

663

Average sales per farmer in wet kilos

POST HARVEST PROCESSING

Fermentation

Centrally fermented in wooden boxes

78% well fermented using FCCI protocol

Harvest Season

May through August

Drying Protocol

Indirect sun in solar dryer on mesh or wooden tables and direct sun on cement patio

Certifications

USDA Organic Certified

Fermentation

Centrally fermented in wooden boxes

78% well fermented using FCCI protocol

Harvest Season

May through August

Drying Protocol

Indirect sun in solar dryer on mesh or wooden tables and direct sun on cement patio

Certifications

USDA Organic Certified

FERMENTATION & DRYING

Cacao is centrally fermented on a moutaintop overlooking the Cahabón region