Pacha Mana Ceremonial Cacao Paste

All of our ceremonial cacao is processed at origin 100% Bean to bar by the family that grows it! To protect the land, we must first protect those who care for it. Chuncho is a native variety of cacao in southern Peru, which grows in the excellent conditions found near Quillabamba, Peru.

This heirloom cacao variety produces smaller and fewer pods than some of today’s hybrid varieties, generating for these farmers around 30%-40% less volume to sell. Because of these lower yields from the Chuncho, many farmers have cut their Chuncho trees to plant varieties not native to the area. Competition of bulk cacao replacement crops has made Chuncho more and more difficult to find. Wild harvested Chuncho cacao ensures the preservation of the biodiverse species of plants in the forests and jungles of Peru.

Its origins date back centuries, when it was grown by the Machiguenga indigenous communities in the Amazon basin since, at minimum the 16th Century.

A fair and higher price to the farmers is not only compensating for the superb quality of Cacao Chuncho, but also makes up for the lower yield from native grown cacao in comparison to other hybrid cacao varieties. We hope to empower these leaders of the Andean regions and bless them with a fair compensation for their work and for the cacao’s true value as sustainable heirloom cacao.