Sunlight peeks through dense Amazonian foliage as Elene Elda Mota and her husband Giovanne guide their small motorboat down a narrow stream. Equipped with machetes and baskets, they disembark and make their way through the thick forest until they reach a tree bearing dozens of bright yellow cocoa pods.
Here, in the Amazon floodplains of Barcarena, in northern Pará state, near where some Amazon rivers meet the Atlantic Ocean, cocoa grows in a natural agroforestry system. “Our cocoa is native cocoa,” Elene said. “We don’t plant our cocoa, we just manage it.”
A Natural Agroforestry System
Protected and irrigated by the forest canopy of the floodplains, Elene’s cocoa is more resistant to pests like vassoura de bruxa, a fungus that devastated Brazilian crops in the 1980s, as well as climate change impacts like droughts and heavy rains. It also offers a diverse range of earthy, fruity, and acidic flavors, which Elene has utilized to produce an expanding range of artisanal cocoa and chocolate products.
Caramelized cocoa nibs are her best seller, she said, and she also produces artisanal chocolate bars, creams, and other sweet spreads, cocoa powders, and oils.
A New Terroir for Chocolate
In recent years, the Amazon state of Pará, Brazil’s largest cocoa producer, has emerged as a new frontier, or terroir, for fine and artisanal chocolate. Like Burgundy wine from France or Ethiopian coffee, the concept of its terroir flavor is rooted in the idea that the soil, climate, and unique agricultural practices of a region contribute to the creation of high-quality and exclusive products.
For Elene, the production of artisanal cocoa and chocolate is a way to promote the conservation of the Amazon rainforest and support the local community. “Our goal is to produce high-quality products that are sustainable and help protect the forest,” she said.
Conclusion
Amazon floodplains cocoa offers a climate-resilient and sustainable option for chocolate. With its diverse range of flavors and environmental benefits, it is a product that can be appreciated by consumers looking for more sustainable and high-quality options.
Source / Reference: Mongabay