Popayan 64% (Colombia)

Popayan 64% (Colombia)

The Road to Revitalized Cacao in 2025

CACAO HUNTERS' chocolate factory is located in Cauca, Colombia. The northern part of the department has a long history of cacao cultivation in Colombia, and it's said that high-quality, fragrant cacao was cultivated here in the early 16th century. However, much of the land was later converted to sugarcane monoculture. Over the past century, the cacao industry has declined significantly, threatening the livelihoods of producers and the security situation in the region.

 Since 2021, CACAO HUNTERS has been working on a cacao revival project in this region with the World Women's Foundation. In 2025, we opened a new cacao center in Popayan, the department's capital, to ferment and dry revitalized cacao. Our fermentation specialist, José, uses special techniques to extract sweet aromas from fresh cacao delivered directly from the source, and our development team, Paulo, meticulously crafts the flavor. We bring you the bond between northern Cauca and Popayan.