BeanCraft 55% Milk Lachuá, Guatemala

Description

“The Lachuá region is home to a pristine cenote lake within a national park (which has been a protected RAMSAR site since 2006) and to communities of indigenous Q’eqchi’ Maya families.

Cacao Verapaz works in partnership with two smallholder associations located around the lake, ASODIRP and KATBALPOM. Together with three additional associations of other products like cardamom and chili peppers, they are leaders in creating economic incentives to develop and maintain biodiverse agroforestry buffer zones around the lake.

The communities work together to use sustainable agroforestry as a buffer, protecting the area from industrial palm oil development and other forms of extractive agriculture pervasive in northern Guatemala. The producers of Lachuá are highly professional and efficient.

The cacao farms in the Lachuá region are planted amidst lush karstic limestone hills that rise up from the rolling verdant landscape. Planted in more recent decades with a combination of trees selected locally for performance and flavour, the Lachuá cacao is complex and has a fascinating flavour profile.”