Single-origin chocolate varieties
Our three global projects, "Cooproagro", "Norandino" and "Oro Verde" enable fair, international cooperation and perfect conditions for the quality of our raw materials.
Single-origin chocolate cultivation projects
By offering single-origin chocolate varieties, we want to showcase the typical characteristics of the cocoa from individual countries of origin in the form of premium chocolate. Climate, soil and the cocoa varieties used differ depending on their location and therefore play an important role in defining the aroma of each single-origin chocolate. The cocoa (and sugar) for our single-origin chocolate is cultivated as part of various Fairtrade projects in South America and India. We would like to introduce you to the various types below.
Ghana 35 %
The cocoa beans, mainly of the Forastero variety, are from the still young ABOCFA cooperative. It consists of 700 members who are spread over 13 districts in Suhum (Ghana). In 2011, the cooperative was the first in Ghana to receive double Fairtrade and organic certification. The members have a direct say in the distribution of the prizes. Half of this is paid directly to the farmers, the rest is used to finance community projects, such as expanding rural electrification or building wells. But the money is also used to combat child labor and to provide financial support for women and young people.
Ecuador 42 %
The Arriba cocoa beans we primarily use for Naturata “Ecuador” premium milk chocolate contain 42 % cocoa and come from the “Apovinces” cooperative in the Vinces region in Ecuador. To date, 633 producers have joined the cooperative. The community provides a platform for the advice and support of farmers with regard to technology, marketing, logistics and export. Its primary objective is to improve the quality of life of members. Families receive microfinance loans which enable them to finance their harvest in advance, advice on technical matters from experienced agronomists and access to a number of training and further education options. They are aided with maintenance of their farms and the production of organic fertilizer and benefit from being able to share use of centralised fermentation and drying methods and equipment as well as production facilities. The Fairtrade cooperative is certified organic and guarantees that no chemical pesticides are used, work is carried out in an environmentally friendly manner, there is no use of child labour and that full traceability of raw materials is ensured.
Costa Rica 50 %
The preferred Trinitario cocoa beans for Naturata premium dark milk chocolate from Costa Rica contain 50 % cocoa and come from the “APPTA” small-farmers’ cooperative in Talamanca, Costa Rica. To date, 1000 smallholders in 23 villages have joined the cooperative since its foundation in 1967. Together, they have succeeded in establishing a solid position as Fairtrade partners and organic producers in the international marketplace. The farmers set great store by sustainable, organic production and the continuous improvement of product quality. Thanks to the Fairtrade bonuses, it has been possible to realise a host of forward-looking projects in recent years. A middle school and a bridge to ease transport were built, a lorry was bought and an agronomist employed to train and advise farmers. The continued objective is to improve the producers’ quality of life and to respect the environment.
Madagaskar 55 %
The cocoa of the varieties Trinitario, Criollo and Forastero comes from the CPCS cooperative (Cooperative Premium Cacao Sambirano) in Madagascar. It was founded in early 2017 and comprises 357 smallholders from 12 villages who together cultivate 680,000 cocoa trees. It has been Fairtrade certified since the beginning of 2018. Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world, so cocoa cultivation is a livelihood for many farmers. By working together in a cooperative, the members have a stronger negotiating position, which simplifies their access to national and international markets. In addition, the farmers benefit from training opportunities to improve their product quality and increase their income.
Togo 65 %
For the fine dark chocolate with a cocoa content of 65%, cocoa is processed by the cooperatives Scoops IKPA and Scoops PROCAB from Kpalimé and Bandou in Togo. Together the two cooperatives have over 1,000 members. On the farms, the cocoa plants grow at a height of 300 to 700 meters in the shade of larger trees. Usually the varieties "Forastero" and "Criollo" are grown. In addition to the cocoa trees, the farmers also grow plantains, casava and maize for their own needs on the 1.5 hectare area. Thanks to the 2015 Fairtrade certification, the premiums could be invested in agricultural inputs and seedlings. In addition, the farmers are supported with training and further education.
Ecuador 70 %
The Arriba cocoa beans we primarily use for Naturata “Ecuador” premium dark chocolate contain 70 % cocoa and come from the “Apovinces” cooperative in the Vinces region in Ecuador. To date, 633 producers have joined the cooperative. The community provides a platform for the advice and support of farmers with regard to technology, marketing, logistics and export. Its primary objective is to improve the quality of life of members. Families receive microfinance loans which enable them to finance their harvest in advance, advice on technical matters from experienced agronomists and access to a number of training and further education options. They are aided with maintenance of their farms and the production of organic fertilizer and benefit from being able to share use of centralised fermentation and drying methods and equipment as well as production facilities. The Fairtrade cooperative is certified organic and guarantees that no chemical pesticides are used, work is carried out in an environmentally friendly manner, there is no use of child labour and that full traceability of raw materials is ensured.
Brazil 70 %
The Demeter cocoa used to make Naturata’s fine, Brazilian dark chocolate with 70 % cocoa, is primarily of the Trinitario variety and grown by the CABRUCA cooperative in north-eastern Brazil. It comprises some 42 family businesses which together farm a total of 4,000 hectares of land. The cooperative takes its name from the Cabruca cultivation system which has been customary in Bahia, Brazil’s largest cocoa-growing region, for over two centuries. This refers to a kind of “cocoa rainforest” which complies fully with biodynamic standards. It combines cocoa cultivation with the preservation of the natural rainforest to the largest possible extent. The cocoa grows in the shade of the huge jungle trees, often together with other crops such as vanilla, guava, rubber and banana, so that no additional fertilizers are needed.
The cooperative seeks to encourage sustainable agriculture on member farms and in this way protect the Atlantic rainforest and promote certified organic cultivation in the long term.
Peru 75 %
The Trinitario cocoa beans for the premium dark chocolate from Peru contain 75 % cocoa and are mainly from the “Norandino” small-farmers’ cooperative in Piura, Peru. The cooperative was founded in 2005 and consists of approximately 6,600 farming families which extends over the northwest of Piura, Cajamarca, Amazonas, San Martin and Lambayeque. Thanks to the association, the highest quality cocoa can be marketed together and traded at fair prices. As a result, the small farmers have come to some wealth and are able to send their children to secondary schools and universities. The farmers of Norandino are committed to sustainable agriculture, the careful use of resources and the high quality of their products.
Panama 80 %
The fine, Naturata dark chocolate from Panama contain 80 % cocoa and consists mostly of the famous Trinitario variety which comes from the “Cocabo” small-farmers’ cooperative in Boca de Toros in the north of the country. It was founded in 1952 and now has 2000 members who specialise in the cultivation of cocoa. The cooperative has been a Fairtrade partner since 2001. The foundation of the cooperative has had a profoundly beneficial effect on the social, cultural and economic situation in the region. Members are offered valuable help in many areas and producers benefit from a secure livelihood. They work under fair conditions and receive a reasonable wage. Furthermore, the members are regularly trained by the manufacturer of Naturata chocolate and provided with relevant information to safeguard the supply of high-quality cocoa as a raw material in the future.
India 85 %
The cocoa beans for the fine, Naturata dark chocolate from India contain 85 % cocoa and come from the “MASS” cooperative in Kottayam, Kerala. This is the country’s largest certified organic cultivation cooperative. It was founded in 1997 and now has around 2500 members. Fairtrade certification was granted in 2009. The cooperative is one of the leading agricultural businesses in India and has repeatedly won awards for its pioneering role in ISO and organic certification and for its training schemes for the care of diseased plants. Sustainable farming, support for smallholders, improvement of cultivation methods and living conditions are key concerns. Here, too, the manufacturer of Naturata chocolate supports long-standing partners in the form of training courses on site and technical aids to improve the standard of farming activities. The objective is to improve the members’ quality of life as well as the production and sale of organic foods.
Caribean 90 %
The cocoa beans for the “Caribbean” premium dark chocolate with a cocoa content of 90 % come mainly from the small farmer cooperative "COOPROAGRO" in the Dominican Republic. It has its administrative headquarters in San Francisco de Macoris in the northeast of the country. The cooperative now includes 21 village groups or small cooperatives, in which almost 2,000 small farmers are members who cultivate, co-process and market cocoa in accordance with international Fairtrade standards. Controlled trade not only secures a reliable income for farmers, but also, through financial services, enables the development of infrastructure. These include the construction of roads and bridges, the supply of electricity in remote villages, the rehabilitation of schools and canteens and the construction of clubhouses. The use of existing funds and the design of community projects are decided democratically. Through transport options, a better health care situation and an increase in education, the project benefits the entire population. The project also focuses on the targeted support of women. The cooperative gives them the opportunity to make their own cocoa jam, cocoa wine and chocolate and sell them on the market. Among the approximately 2,000 members, 10 % are women.
Bolivia 95 %
The cocoa beans – mainly Trinitario – for Naturata premium dark chocolate from Bolivia contain 95 % cocoa and come from the “El Ceibo” small-farmers’ cooperative. This was founded in 1977 and is situated in Alto Beni, near La Paz. The cooperative has 1200 members who cultivate organic cocoa. Fairtrade certification was granted in 1991. El Ceibo helps families to earn a living from cultivating cocoa and improve their living conditions. Over time, transport routes and other infrastructure have been continuously expanded. The town of El Alto is the site of the world’s first plant run by smallholders for processing cocoa butter, cocoa powder and chocolate for the domestic and international markets. For the last four years it has offered the chance to train and work in production and administration. The manufacturer of Naturata chocolate has been sourcing its raw materials from the cooperative for over 20 years and regularly offers courses on site to train members. The aim is to continuously strengthen the overall cocoa production chain through transparency and efficiency and to improve living conditions for all members by means of a sense of unity and partnership, justice and equality.
Latin America 100 %
The premium cocoa for the „Latin America“ dark chocolate (100 %) comes from Fairtrade projects and the “COOPROAGRO” cooperative in the Dominican Republic and the “Organic Cocoa Ecuador” cooperative in Fortaleza del Valle in Ecuador respectively. There, mainly top-quality Trinitario cocoa is cultivated according to strict organic guidelines.
