News from Brazil: on the coffee and cocoa route
Recorded from Brasilia airport, between flights with Dany Marquis
I'm writing these lines from Brasilia airport, between two stopovers, to share with you the discoveries and memorable encounters of my trip to Brazil. This immense country, rich in contrasts and human warmth, offers me once again the opportunity to get closer to those who cultivate the products that make our company so rich: coffee and cocoa.
Minas Gerais: strengthening the link with SanCoffee
First stop: Santo Antônio do Amparo, in the Minas Gerais region. There I met our partners from the SanCoffee cooperative, with whom we have established a direct supply route. This relationship, which bypasses American brokers, allows us to ensure greater price stability , a human connection with producers , and greater resilience in an uncertain global economic context.
We have selected several lots, including the coffee you may already know as Crémeux Spécial . But above all, I was lucky enough to get my hands on the 2nd best coffee in Brazil according to the Cup of Excellence 2024 (natural method), which I acquired at auction. It will soon arrive at the workshop for a very fine roasting.
Amazon: heading to Rondônia for cocoa
My itinerary then took me northwest to the Amazon, to the state of Rondônia . There I visited nine cocoa farms , in a region that is still little known but holds enormous potential. Rondônia has just been granted a Protected Geographical Indication , and the government actively supports the development of quality, notably with an annual competition to stimulate excellence.
Unlike Bahia, where exports and processing are more advanced, Rondônia is still under construction. But that's precisely what inspires me: helping to build bridges between these producers and our artisanal chocolate factory, and supporting their long-term development.
What's new in the workshop
Meanwhile, in Carleton, a new precision roaster from South Korea is on its way to our facility. It will allow us to better showcase our exceptional micro-lots, including seven Cup of Excellence coffees already in stock. This is another step in our commitment to offering specialty coffees with clear, complex, and balanced profiles.
