From the top of a mountain, we look upon our home: the Sacred Valley. On the other side, awaits the wild jungle. As we descend, plant life evolves, becomes denser and all encompassing. This is the jungle; the land of the plants and one very special one: Cacao. A city and a few small towns mark the narrow, bumpy road that goes ever deeper into the jungle. We turn off the main road onto a muddy, dirt road that snakes its way up a mountain. Evidence of past mudslides are abound. Only trucks capable of serious off-roading can make this journey. Luckily, we’re in one with a fantastically gifted driver.
Cacao and other fruit trees line the road. We cross a wide, rocky stream and continue upwards till arriving at an isolated farmer’s home. From there, we look down upon the family’s 6 hectare agroforestry farm. Among the vast amounts of Cacao are papaya, bananana, pineapple and other plants. This combination of crops mimics the jungle's natural environment; each plays a critical role in enriching the soil and ensuring long-term sustainability. Surrounding the farm is wild forest protecting the natural megadiversity of the jungle. This is sustainable farming at its peak.
A farmer in his twenties graciously guides us through his family's farm. Chuncho Cacao’s ripe yellow pods hang from trees with beautiful papaya right next to them. A Cacao pod is busted open against a brick, exposing its beans coated in a sweet, white foam. We suck on the white foam and spit out the raw beans - they’re not ready for consumption. Chuncho Cacao’s fruit has a lovely profile with bursts of berries and citrus. The farmer shares that this year’s harvest is half the size as normal due to a lack of rain when the tree’s flowers bloomed; they simply fell off without producing fruit. Even this pristine paradise of plant life is being impacted by climate change.
Some years ago, a member of a co-op trudged up the same path we took via truck with only her feet. Her aim was to reach isolated farmers and help them access the broader Peruvian and global market; and she was successful. The co-op built and donated to the community a facility in their neighborhood to process their own Cacao. It’s simply, yet effective. Wooden grates were provided for fermentation, a concrete area with a roof for the beans’ drying and a small warehouse to store the beans. The co-op also provides the service of getting the farmers organic and Fairtrade certifications and picking up the beans in their trucks.
Usually, at this time of year the facilities are overflowing with Cacao and have staff working everyday. However, this year the community and other co-op warehouses look completely different. Now, they're nearly empty. The leading producers in West Africa have also experienced a smaller harvest this year. This led to large-scale producers with low quality standards canvasing the world, including Peru, for Cacao. They purchase Cacao at high prices with disregard to whether it's organic or grown in a sustainable manner. This combined with the smaller harvest in Peru has led to Cacao not being available in large numbers to smaller co-ops who operate with integrity and high standards.
Natalie and I marvel at the array of craft chocolate bars in our local shops. High quality dark chocolate and truffles are abundant. It’s a chocolate lover's paradise! The bounty of Chuncho Cacao grown in the Cusco jungle gave creation to this chocolate wonderland. Yet, local craft chocolatiers are also feeling the pinch of climate change and large international businesses buying up the Cacao supply. One shares with us that it is now challenging for him to purchase Cacao since the prices have been pushed so high. He’s experimenting with new local Cacao sources, but they aren’t meeting his quality standards. In this new Cacao world where supply is lower and major companies are buying large quantities, there’s little room left for the local craft chocolatier.
This Peruvian tale is reminiscent of what’s happening globally in the Cacao industry. The Cacao world is changing rapidly. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s blog post and email detailing the global Cacao crisis.
Alex Simmons is a Cacao Facilitator and husband of Conscious Cacao's founder, Natalie Simmons. Natalie and Alex offer online group, couples and 1-1 Cacao Ceremonies. Join our mailing list or follow Conscious__Cacao on Instagram to receive notifications of our online group ceremonies. Natalie also offers Akashic Records Readings and distance Reiki. Alex offers spiritual counseling and life coaching with a specialization in the integration of sacred plant medicine experiences and spiritual awakening guidance. You may learn more about their experiences and offerings on the "Offerings" page of this site.
Comments