Kindred Forest Bolivian Wild 75% Beniano

Description

This rare dark chocolate bar is crafted from wild-harvested Beniano cacao from Bolivia’s Amazon, known for its rich, complex flavors. The cacao is sourced from Beni’s wild forests, an area the size of Germany, and expertly fermented and dried at Tranquilidad Wild Forest Estate, managed by Volker Lehmann, who brings over 20 years of agroforestry expertise to the process.

Indigenous communities, deeply connected to the land, have harvested cacao from these wild trees for generations. Harvesting occurs annually between mid-December and mid-April, depending on the rainy season. The forests belong to the whole community and each family has a right to harvest from portions of these forests. The process involves hand-picking cacao pods and careful handling, followed by fermentation according to age-old local traditions and sun drying at the estate’s facilities. The cacao trees, growing up to 10 meters tall, are harvested manually or with long sticks and wire slings. Local harvesters work in small groups, collecting and transporting beans with dedication and skill.

Kindred Forest have partnered with Cornish chocolate makers Chocolarder to create this chocolate bar, with tasting notes of “a light raisin sweetness paired with a tangy acidity. As the chocolate melts, it reveals a robust backbone of bitterness and a perfectly balanced astringency. The finish is exceptionally long and sweet, evoking dark, juicy fruits with a smooth, roasted pine nut suppleness.”