Colombia
TUMACO
An elegant cacao with whiskey, tobacco, and malt notes -- high impact, crowd-pleasing, sweet and chocolatey.
2023 Data - Product
Quality: Ultra premium
Flavor: Hot fudge, Vanilla Cream & Marshmallow
Fermentation Style: Box
Drying Style: Raised beds with a roof, solar dryers
Quality Practices: Sugar analysis of wet cacao at purchase point, temperature monitoring during fermentation, pH or sugar monitoring during fermentation, specific protocols for flavor, cut tests during fermentation
Hand Sorting: Yes
Number of awards in 2023: 16
2023 Data - Planet
Crops that are used for intercropping: Plantain, timber & fruit
Environmental practices: Adaptation of traditional practices, recuperation of heritage cacaos and local forest tree
Average percent of shade of cacao farms: 50%
Distance of producer to facility (km): 5
Distance to port (km): 776
Ocean freight CO2kgs per MT (US): 66
Ocean Freight CO2kgs per MT (EU): 145
2023 Data - People
Community-focused initiatives: Financial services, capacity development, infrastructure improvement
Trainings conducted: Farm productivity, ecological practices & cacao quality
Producers purchased from: 139
Female producers: 25
Producers under 35 y/o: 41
Total # of producers trained: 89
Full time employees: 4
Full time female employees: 2
Part time employees: 11
Part time female employees: 7
Average farm size (ha): 1.2
Average sales per producer (dry kg): 278.61
Average annual cacao revenue per producer: $906.74
In 2023, Uncommon Cacao sourced 100% of Tumaco cacao purchased from ASPROCAT (Asociación de Productores Cacaoteros) through Cacao Hunters.
ASPROCAT is one of many associations in the Tumaco-Nariño region, comprising a
network of nearly 1 thousand families dedicated to growing cacao. In 2023, ASPROCAT achieved an annual production exceeding 500 metric tons (MT), encompassing both specialty cacao and bulk commodity grade varieties. ASPROCAT prides
itself on maintaining a clonal garden that highlights the genetic diversity and potential of the region. This garden includes “criollo” strains endemic to Tumaco, as well as others with genetically optimized traits. The clonal garden also serves as a training center for producers in the region, showcasing best practices for improving productivity. This rich genetic diversity contributes to the distinct flavor profile recognized as "Tumaco" cacao, characterized by chocolatey notes, light fruit and nut undertones, and a smooth, low-acidity finish. Since 2018, our export partner, Cacao Hunters, has collaborated closely with ASPROCAT. They provide essential feedback on refining post-harvest protocols and offer technical assistance,
enhancing the quality and marketability of Tumaco's cacao. Due to the consistent high quality and improved traceability standards, Uncommon Cacao decided to source Tumaco cacao from this single association in Tumaco in 2023.
TERROIR
The region of Tumaco rests on the western coast in the southernmost part of Colombia. Cacao is endemic to Colombia, and interesting native varieties can be found in the Tumaco region. The associations in Tumaco have been doing research with the University of Nariño to identify native cacao genetics found in the region. After years of study, they’ve now narrowed down nine genetic varietals that they believe are the native cacaos of that region, and are maintaining a clonal garden to eventually farm seedlings to distribute widely to more farmers in their networks. Many cacao producers in Tumaco have refused to plant new genetics promoted by government and development programs, and as a result the Tumaco cacao offers a distinct and chocolate-forward profile.
Pictured to the left are local genetics at the ASPROCAT clonal garden.
In 2023, Uncommon Cacao sourced 100% of Tumaco cacao purchased from ASPROCAT (Asociación de Productores Cacaoteros) through Cacao Hunters.
ASPROCAT is one of many associations in the Tumaco-Nariño region, comprising a
network of nearly 1 thousand families dedicated to growing cacao. In 2023, ASPROCAT achieved an annual production exceeding 500 metric tons (MT), encompassing both specialty cacao and bulk commodity grade varieties. ASPROCAT prides
itself on maintaining a clonal garden that highlights the genetic diversity and potential of the region. This garden includes “criollo” strains endemic to Tumaco, as well as others with genetically optimized traits. The clonal garden also serves as a training center for producers in the region, showcasing best practices for improving productivity. This rich genetic diversity contributes to the distinct flavor profile recognized as "Tumaco" cacao, characterized by chocolatey notes, light fruit and nut undertones, and a smooth, low-acidity finish. Since 2018, our export partner, Cacao Hunters, has collaborated closely with ASPROCAT. They provide essential feedback on refining post-harvest protocols and offer technical assistance,
enhancing the quality and marketability of Tumaco's cacao. Due to the consistent high quality and improved traceability standards, Uncommon Cacao decided to source Tumaco cacao from this single association in Tumaco in 2023.
TERROIR
The region of Tumaco rests on the western coast in the southernmost part of Colombia. Cacao is endemic to Colombia, and interesting native varieties can be found in the Tumaco region. The associations in Tumaco have been doing research with the University of Nariño to identify native cacao genetics found in the region. After years of study, they’ve now narrowed down nine genetic varietals that they believe are the native cacaos of that region, and are maintaining a clonal garden to eventually farm seedlings to distribute widely to more farmers in their networks. Many cacao producers in Tumaco have refused to plant new genetics promoted by government and development programs, and as a result the Tumaco cacao offers a distinct and chocolate-forward profile.
Pictured to the left are local genetics at the ASPROCAT clonal garden.
2023 Tumaco Farmgate price
$3.25 USD
This is the actual price paid to the cacao producer for their product (typically on a per kg or per lb basis) when they sell it to the first buyer.
Farmgate price is often paid for "wet" or fresh cacao, recently harvested and scooped out of cracked pods for sale. Wet cacao loses 60-70% of its weight during fermentation and drying, typically reaching 7-8% humidity before it is sold.
Uncommon calculates farmgate price for each cacao supplier based on the specific weight loss conversion percentage provided to us by the supplier, and we report farmgate price on a per kg dried equivalent basis for all cacao beans we source.
Pictured are Bertha Sarmiento Yineth De la Cruz and Edilmer Figueroa from Cacao Hunters.
2023 Tumaco Association price
$3.42 USD
This is the price the exporter pays the association for cacao.
In some cases in our supply chain there is an organized group of producers that aggregate cacao and sell it to an exporter.
2023 Tumaco FOB price
$4.50 USD
This is the price paid by Uncommon to our partners for cacao transported and loaded onto a ship for export.
Uncommon then covers all of the costs of shipping, freight charges, insurance, import, domestic logistics, warehouse ingestion, customs and duties.
Free on board (FOB) is an international shipping term that represents the seller's responsibility for bringing the cacao over the rails of the export ship.
2023 Tumaco Average sales price
$7.30 USD
This is the weighted average price per kg for cacao sold to the premium & ultra premium chocolate makers who purchased it during this year from Uncommon Cacao.
Notable Awards
2023 Gold
International Chocolate Awards
Pictured is Edilmer Figueroa from Cacao Hunters evaluating cacao
Flavor Profile
Hot Fudge, Vanilla Cream & Marshmallow
We believe that the difference between traceability and transparency is published and verifiable data for each and every step in our supply chain.
