São Tomé & Príncipe - ceremonial cacao

This cacao from São Tomé and Príncipe boasts a rich, classic chocolate flavor that reveals the true depth of the cacao. The intense chocolate base is complemented by subtle notes of red fruits, spices and earthy notes, creating a complex and rounded flavor profile.

São Tomé, also known as the “Chocolate Island,” is located right on the equator in the Gulf of Guinea. The volcanic soil and humid tropical climate provide ideal conditions for cacao trees to flourish.

This cacao is grown on small farms, where farmers transport the crop to a central fermentation station. Here, the beans undergo strict fermentation standards, ensuring the highest quality. Farmers receive an additional premium for producing high-quality and organic cacao.

Although São Tomé was one of the world's largest cacao producers in the early 20th century, social and political changes led to a decline in production. In recent decades, investment and modern farming practices have helped revitalize the cacao industry, combining local farming traditions with innovative techniques to improve yields, quality and community well-being.

The first tasting is very intimate, intimate and eloquent in its attunement. In the early days, this introduction happened spontaneously. Then I followed this special manifestation with conscious attention. Now I give myself without gaps and with the dedicated attention of almost every cell of my body, I introduce myself and call in the information that it wants to convey and that this consciousness is able to receive in this body.

It showed the quality of light being born and emerging from the infinite ocean of darkness. Darkness is the supportive womb that holds and in which everything is created. This is not an absence of light, but  the lap of completeness that represents all qualities. Everything is worth examining whether it still has validity in our lives. Because it may be driven only by the force of inertia and maintained by public consensus, but we try to maintain it with an expired warranty. Such is the general idea of darkness. It has many faces, just like love and light. What we pay attention to and are able to understand from it becomes true for us. In the light of this drink, it was crystal clear that without darkness, nothing can exist that wants to become recognizable in light. Just as no painting can be seen without the canvas that contains it.