Kakao Blog / news

About 5 years ago, during my first stay in Colombia, we hiked through a national park, the Parque Tayrona. It is known for its incredible biodiversity and the natural spectacle that results when wild mountain jungle flows directly into the Caribbean Sea. Even then, on our hike through the national park, we encountered tribal people dressed in white. Sometimes accompanied by a donkey or a mule, mostly with a cheek full of coca. At that time, I felt extremely foreign to this culture, which was so different, and at the same time so fascinated by it.

Sometimes I imagine I'm an iceberg.

Not only because icebergs are incredibly cool. Above all, namely, I connect with the quality that this "small" outstanding tip, visible above the surface of the water, is held by a much much larger mass, a force many times larger than can be seen from the outside.

I have been in contact with Jan from Original Beans since 2020 . As Conservation Kakao Leader , it is his mission to identify and preserve the rarest and finest Kakaos in the world and to create the infrastructure so that these special beans are also recognized by us. Due to the demand generated, these rare Kakao can be saved from extinction and preserved for posterity. With the Sourced As Original Beans standard by Jan and his team, they guarantee a sustainable approach to the environment, people and natural resources on various levels. Jan is in personal contact with the local cooperatives...

By a lucky coincidence, I came across Jan from Original Beans and since then I have been regularly inspired by his work. In him I have found a true Kakao connoisseur from whom I can learn so much. With his Original Beans project, he has made it his mission to seek out the rarest and finest Kakao in the world and save them from extinction.A truly noble task that involves many obstacles and adventures, as I was privileged to learn from him.This is exactly how Jan came into contact with the Norandino organic cooperative in northern Peru, which has managed to...

Once upon a time, there was a Kakao Mischa who wanted to have adventures and was sure there was fancy stuff out there. Even though times were rough, he wandered around and wanted to know: What does he do with himself, so cunning?Selling Kakao, that sounds fine! Could that be his destiny now? Or what else is he doing here? It's probably too late for the piano. His patience is just enough to sing along with "lalalal". With more and more Kakao in the trunk and worrying foam in front of his mouth, he was seen rushing. Just in time...