Our Project
VAICACAO: A SHORT SUPPLY CHAIN THAT TELLS A STORY OF LOVE FOR COCOA AND THE LAND
Our story began in 2015 in San Salvador, when we decided to introduce the world to Fino de Aroma cocoa from Finca Cuyancúa , owned by Juan Rafael's family and currently managed by his father, Rafael. This cocoa is more than just a product: it is a symbol of culture, tradition, and love for the land, a living link to the ancestral roots of Salvadoran cocoa.
Since 2015, we have also begun purchasing from our colleagues, small cocoa producers in El Salvador, who share our values of responsible and regenerative cultivation , which can positively impact the ecosystem and the communities surrounding cocoa. These direct relationships continue today, ensuring long-term relationships with maximum traceability, high quality, and a positive environmental and economic impact for the farming communities we work with.
In 2016, driven by the desire to bring cocoa beyond the borders of Central America, we moved to Olbia, Sardinia, Elisa's hometown.
Here we created our laboratory, where we have been producing BEAN-TO-BAR chocolate and cocoa paste for ceremonial use since 2018 , working each single batch with artisanal care, with the commitment to supporting Salvadoran and Mesoamerican specialty cocoa, creating genuine, uncompromising products and minimally processed compared to commercial products.
A WORK MODEL THAT CHANGES THE RULES
We are not satisfied with the global cocoa trading system, where prices are set on the New York and London stock exchanges and cocoa is treated like a commodity, crushing local producers and creating speculative systems that benefit only large industrial groups and certainly not individual farmers. We believe in a different kind of trade, totally independent and outside of these logics, where every transaction is a gesture of trust and respect, and takes place directly at the farm gate, that is, on the plantation, whenever possible.
Mesoamerican Cocoa Drink: A Cultural Exchange
The beverage made from cacao paste, inspired by Mesoamerican traditions—known today as ceremonial cacao —is the beating heart of our project. It's not just a food with a thousand nuances, but a true ally for well-being and spiritual connection, a journey that leads to the deep roots of our region's rich ancestral culture, which also encompasses our country, El Salvador.
Light years away from what we call chocolate or cocoa powder today, cocoa paste was the key ingredient in the convivial and ceremonial beverages of Mesoamerican cultures: pure, uncontaminated, and charged with spiritual significance. These drinks celebrated the profound connection between the land, people, and cosmovisions.
Our ceremonial cacao pastes are inspired by this very story. Crafted with care and intention, they are designed to be enjoyed in moments of sharing, spiritual growth, or as part of a daily ritual.
A small but meaningful morning ritual using cocoa can be a powerful ally in relieving stress, finding inner balance, and counteracting the overstimulation of modern life. Furthermore, it's a valid and natural alternative to coffee because it contains theobromine, a gentle stimulant that helps keep us focused.
Unlike commercial cocoa, which often lacks traceability and is impoverished by industrial processes that destroy its soul and quality, our ceremonial cocoa is transparent, authentic, traceable, and intimately linked to the people and the land where it originates.
FROM THE COCOA BEAN TO THE BAR, A JOURNEY INTO THE GENUINE TASTE OF CHOCOLATE
Our chocolate is a pure and authentic experience. With a very short ingredient list—no added cocoa butter, no soy lecithin, no artificial flavors—we let the cocoa truly take center stage.
Every origin tells a story. Like wine or specialty coffee, cocoa deserves to be appreciated for its unique nuances: each harvest, genetic variety, terroir, and post-harvest process like fermentation and drying contributes to creating flavors that speak of the land from which they come.
For those who want to discover new and authentic flavors, our chocolate is an invitation to rediscover the pleasure of cocoa in its most vibrant form, because it is roasted gently, lightly, without burning it, and with minimal processing that inebriates even the most demanding palates.
OUR COMMITMENT TO GREATER SUSTAINABILITY
In a changing world, cocoa can also be part of the solution. On the plantations we source, cocoa is grown in regenerative agroforestry systems that restore biodiversity, capture CO2, and improve soil fertility. We ensure our work is respectful and respects the rights of the people involved.
But we don't stop there. We pay attention to every detail, or at least everything within our power, such as:
- Choosing recyclable packaging in paper to minimize the environmental impact of plastic.
- Choice not to use plastic packaging where not necessary for shipping.
- Website hosting powered by renewable energy.
- Local collaborations for composting cocoa husks, transforming waste into new life for the soil.
We know there's no such thing as zero impact, but every step counts. Our goal is to leave the world a little better than we found it.
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