72% Marañon

Marañon has a strong argument to be considered home to the oldest domesticated varieties of cacao on the planet. Farmed by the meticulous and passionate Noe Vasquez, the beans receive a prolonged fermentation and drying process among the steep canyon valleys of Cajamarca. The chocolate produced at the end is warm, complex and accessible.

First and foremost a family man, Noe Vasquez runs the cacao business with his 3 brothers a few hours north of Jaen, a beautiful city in the North Peruvian highlands well-known for producing incredible coffee. Proud to be farming the variety he named himself, 'Fotunato no.4', Noe is one of the most advanced and disciplined farmers we've had the pleasure of meeting.

The site named Monte Grand, located in inner city Jaen, is now accepted as being home to the world's earliest documented evidence of humans domesticating cacao. Noe believes the cacao from the area is ancient, and a cultural treasure that he is committing to protecting. We are privileged to be working with this cacao and aspire to make both Noe and the many generations who came before him proud.