Chocolate is that warm hug after a bad day. It comes coated on biscuits for that brief respite during a coffee break. Packed in boxes for a touch of romance. Luxuriously melted and drizzled over cakes. To share or to steal a solitary moment. The familiar, unique taste stirring feelings of nostalgia, peace and delight. 

There’s no denying that this delicious indulgence brings us a lot of joy, but what about those who devote their lives to its production? When adding a bar to our meal deal, revelling in our birthday spoils, settling down with Valentine’s finest selections, do we ever take a moment to think about where chocolate comes from and those who have worked hard to produce this scrumptious treat?

What Is Cacao Trace? 

The process of top-quality chocolate begins with a producer, cacao trees and most typically, their small family-run farms. Although North America, Europe and Oceania are the biggest consumers of chocolate, its principal ingredient, cacao, is mostly grown in Africa, Central and South America and Asia. Although the cacao farmers have the toughest jobs, they are often the poorest in the supply chain. They have to tackle pests, diseases, bad harvests and climate change as well as having to constantly campaign for better health and education facilities in their communities.

Cacao Trace is a programme which encourages sustainability, sublimely tasting chocolate, value and respect for all those involved in the chocolate world, from farmers, suppliers, traders and consumers. The aim is to provide education, support and opportunities, so that farmers and communities don’t just survive but also, thrive and flourish. 

Benefits of This Purposeful Project

When you visit the Cacao Trace website, you are instantly greeted with a wealth of information and video snippets of how this scheme is improving the lives of many. Their message “join an exceptional world of exceptional chocolate” conveys their ardent commitment and dedication to delivering fair yet, spectacular products. It also demonstrates their determination to make everyone a winner.

Endless Advantages with Cacao Trace…

  • Their trainers and experts go in person to plantations and farms to advise and educate producers on how to work the fields. They teach them the best and most modern agricultural practices meaning that they can produce high-quality beans. 
  • Due to their educational approach, many farmers can then go onto increase their yield, obtaining the best cacao for the best chocolate.
  • Cacao Trace helps producers fight for better prices so that they can continue their work.
  • They believe in natural fermentation and their techniques are regularly revised, studied and optimised.
  • Because of the above, many workers find that they can achieve larger profits so that they can afford school and university fees for their children.
  • Through their ‘Chocolate Bonus’ program, profits are distributed more evenly throughout the supply chain so that extra money can be funnelled back into the cacao farmer’s community. Everyone can then grow and develop together, giving those who work on these farms a chance to truly succeed. 
  • With Cacao Trace everyone from CEOs of major confectionary companies, to master chocolatiers, supermarkets, eco shops and consumers can feel a part of something valuable and life changing.  

It’s impossible to imagine a world without chocolate. However, to any chocolate lover, it should be abhorrent that the farmers, who make chocolate production possible, are left to struggle and live below the poverty line. As suppliers, vendors and consumers we can really help to make a difference by getting involved or simply showing support and solidarity towards schemes like Cacao Trace. A sweet simple pleasure pursued in the best circumstances can mean we all get a slice of heaven. So, here’s to a better, brighter and fairer future for the chocolate world.