Our Estate & Heritage

Beneath the mist-shrouded peaks of the Napo Valley, where the Chocó biogeographic region meets the Andean foothills, lies the heart of Terroir Cocoa. This is not merely a plantation; it is a living archive of botanical heritage, agricultural precision, and family legacy. Established in 1987, our estate was planted with a simple conviction: that extraordinary chocolate begins long before the bean is roasted, fermented, or conched. It begins in the soil, under the canopy, in the careful selection of clones, and in the daily stewardship of the land.

Today, our 200-acre estate functions as both a productive cacao farm and a research outpost for fine-flavor cultivars. We maintain strict polyculture systems, interplanting cacao with robusta coffee, banana, and native timber species to preserve soil microbiology and provide natural shade. Our farming philosophy rejects monoculture dependency and chemical acceleration in favor of slow, biological maturation that yields beans with complex aromatic potential.

The Volcanic Terroir

Our estate sits at an elevation of 450–650 meters above sea level, a critical altitude that provides consistent diurnal temperature shifts essential for slow bean maturation and sugar development. The soil profile is classified as Andisol, derived from recent volcanic activity, rich in organic matter, potassium, and trace minerals that directly influence the phenolic and lipid composition of the cacao seed.

Curated Cacao Varieties

We cultivate exclusively fine-flavor cacao clones, carefully selected over decades for disease resistance, yield stability, and distinct flavor precursors. Each variety is harvested, fermented, and dried separately to preserve its unique organoleptic profile. Our agronomy team conducts annual sensory evaluations and lab analysis to track bean quality metrics including moisture content, fat percentage, and defect rates.

The Delacroix Heritage

Sustainable Stewardship

Sustainability at Terroir Cocoa is not a marketing initiative; it is the foundational framework of our agronomy. We operate under a regenerative model that prioritizes soil health, water conservation, biodiversity preservation, and economic equity for our farming families. Every decision, from pruning schedules to harvest logistics, is evaluated through an ecological and generational lens.