Tree-Ripened Cacao

Tree-Ripened Cacao

Precise timing of cacao harvest is critical to bean’s flavour.

Instead of harvesting in a single sweep, we closely work with our 100+ farmer-member community to ensure only fully ripe pods are harvested. Our farmers detect each cacao’s ripeness through a colour and sound test. Within 24 hours, these pods are dispatched for fermentation.

Stringent Screening

Stringent Screening

We carefully screen every cacao pod, discarding any that are raw, exposed, or damaged.

To open the pods, we employ only wooden clubs instead of the conventionally used machetes or sickles. This helps prevent the beans from any potential damage.

Scientific Fermentation

Scientific Fermentation

Pioneering a scientific approach to fermentation has been pivotal in helping us truly unlock the flavour potential of Indian cacao. The beans go through our 5-step fermentation process, carefully guided by our skilled fermenters.

With our indigenously-developed, proprietary IOT technology, we monitor critical parameters such as temperature, pH levels, brix and humidity throughout the process.

Slow
Drying

Slow Drying

The Indian Cacao is characterised as having an unappealing flavour, and with sharp acidic notes.

This can be attributed to careless drying methods. Our cacao beans are meticulously slow-dried to remove excess moisture, without losing the flavour. Drying them on movable racks allows us to alternate between sun and shade, protecting them from the harsh Indian sun.

Sorting
& Packing

Sorting & Packing

Our beans undergo a careful hand inspection to eliminate any germinated, mouldy, or broken beans, as well as any stones or twigs. Subsequently, the beans are machine-graded according to their size, carefully separating them into small and medium sizes. Grading is essential to ensure that the beans roast evenly.

Once sorted, the beans are precisely weighed, labelled and hermetically sealed in a barrier bag. This bag is then placed inside jute gunny sacks, creating a double-layered packaging that effectively preserves the beans’ freshness and flavour over a longer duration.