About Terroir Cocoa

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"Where the earth breathes, cacao dreams."

Our Origin

From a Single Plot to a Legacy

Terroir Cocoa began in 1987 when founder Alejandro Delacroix planted 50 cacao trees on a forgotten hillside in Ecuador's Napo Valley. What started as a passion project to preserve heirloom cacao varieties quickly blossomed into a philosophy: that the finest chocolate is born from reverence for the land.

Today, three generations later, our estate spans over 200 acres of carefully cultivated groves. We've never lost sight of Alejandro's original vision—to grow, ferment, and craft chocolate that tells the story of its origin, unfiltered and authentic.

                    "We don't just grow cacao. We steward a living ecosystem, honor ancestral farming wisdom, and craft chocolate that connects you to the soil, the rain, and the hands that nurtured it."
                

Purpose & Direction

Mission & Vision

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Our Mission

To cultivate the world's finest single-origin cacao using sustainable, regenerative farming practices, and transform it into artisan chocolate that elevates the sensory experience while empowering our farming community and protecting biodiversity.

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Our Vision

To be globally recognized as the benchmark for farm-to-bar chocolate excellence, where every bar embodies transparency, terroir-driven flavor, and a zero-compromise approach to environmental and social responsibility.

What Guides Us

Core Values

Every decision we make, from pruning to packaging, is filtered through these guiding principles.

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Regenerative Farming

We give back more than we take. Our practices restore soil health, enhance biodiversity, and sequester carbon across our entire estate.

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Radical Transparency

Every bar carries the exact origin, harvest date, and farmer cooperative. Traceability isn't a trend for us—it's our foundation.

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Community First

We pay 3x the fair-trade minimum, fund local schools, and ensure every family on our farm thrives financially and socially.

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Uncompromising Craft

From 72-hour conching to hand-poured tempering, we reject shortcuts. Excellence is in the details, and we honor them.

The Land

Our Unique Terroir

Location, elevation, soil composition, and microclimate converge to create an environment where cacao achieves its highest potential.

Volcanic Soil

Rich in iron, potassium, and trace minerals, our soil provides natural nutrients that deepen the complexity of our beans without synthetic inputs.

Altitude & Mist

Grown at 600–800 meters above sea level, our trees experience cool nights and warm days, slowing bean development and concentrating flavor precursors.

Shade-Grown Canopy

We preserve native forest cover above our cacao, creating a humid microclimate that reduces pest pressure and supports over 40 species of birds and insects.

The People

Our Leadership

A blend of generational wisdom and modern expertise guiding Terroir Cocoa forward.

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Alejandro Delacroix

Founder & Emeritus

The visionary who planted the first trees in 1987. His legacy lives in every heirloom variety we cultivate today.

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Elena Delacroix

CEO & Second Generation

Expanded operations, secured organic certifications, and championed our direct-to-consumer philosophy.

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Dr. Mateo Reyes

Head of Fermentation

Former food scientist who revolutionized our 6-day fermentation process, unlocking unprecedented flavor clarity.

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Sofia Navarro

Sustainability Director

Leads our carbon-neutral initiative, water conservation programs, and community education partnerships.

Our Journey

Milestones

1987

The First Planting

Alejandro Delacroix establishes the estate with 50 heirloom cacao trees in the Napo Valley.

2005

Organic Certification

After 15 years of chemical-free farming, we receive full USDA Organic and EU Organic certification.

2012

First Export

Our Dark 78% bar ships to specialty distributors in Europe and North America for the first time.

2018

Grand Prix Chocolate Award

Our Single Estate Reserve wins Gold for Best South American Dark Chocolate in Paris.

2024

Carbon Neutral Milestone

We achieve verified carbon neutrality across farm, factory, and supply chain operations.

Experience the Terroir

Whether you're joining us for a farm tour, exploring our collection, or simply want to stay connected to our journey—we'd love to welcome you.

Book a Farm Tour Explore the Collection