ROASTED COCOA BEANS - VENEZUELA Criollo Choroni - Microlot

Pure Ancient Criollo, harvested and prepared on a plantation located near the village of Choroní. The raw cocoa beans are white in cross-section.

Classification – Microlot
Region – Choroní Village, Aragua State
Genetics – Ancient Criollo
Flavor Profile – Very mild and pleasant taste, without bitterness, astringency, or viscosity. The aroma is extremely delicate, gradually evolving without intense dominant notes, yet offering remarkable depth and richness.
Fermentation – F1, carried out in three stages in specially designed wooden boxes.
Drying – Natural sun drying on a dedicated drying platform.

Region Description

In the tropical region of the Venezuelan coast, near the picturesque village of Choroní in Aragua State, lies the Chorini Plalla Grande farm—a place with a deep history and an authentic tradition of cultivating Criollo cocoa beans. This area, protected by Henri Pittier National Park, has been recognized for centuries for its fertile soils, stable climate, and biodiversity, which create ideal conditions for the development of rare and refined cocoa varieties.

Cocoa from Choroní has been cultivated since colonial times and was highly valued in Europe for its finesse and aromatic complexity. Over generations, local small-scale producers have preserved traditional cultivation, fermentation, and drying methods, helping maintain the genetic purity of the Criollo variety.

The Chorini Plalla Grande farm continues this heritage through a meticulous and sustainable approach. The farm exclusively cultivates Pure Criollo cocoa, a variety considered among the most prestigious in the world of fine chocolate.

Pure Criollo is the rarest and most valued cocoa variety, representing less than 0.01% of global cocoa production. Originating from Central and South America, this variety was cultivated by pre-Columbian civilizations and revered for its delicate flavor and exceptional qualities. Criollo beans are known for their light color, low tannin content, and absence of bitterness, resulting in a creamy texture and a complex yet subtle aromatic profile.

Criollo Puro is highly sensitive to diseases and has low productivity, making it extremely difficult to cultivate on a large scale. However, the Chorini Plalla Grande farm has successfully preserved the genetic purity of this variety through traditional selection methods and careful management of the local ecosystem.

The plantation is managed manually, respecting the natural rhythms of the soil and climate. Each lot is fermented under controlled conditions and slowly sun-dried on wooden platforms. This attention to detail ensures the preservation of the beans’ organoleptic characteristics and provides complete traceability from the tree to export.

The current Choroni Criollo lot cultivated at Chorini Plalla Grande farm stands out through its exceptional sensory profile. The flavor is very mild and pleasant, without bitterness, astringency, or viscosity. The aroma is delicate, gradually evolving without sharp dominant notes, revealing instead a subtle and rich depth through fine layers.

This is a cocoa that does not impress through intensity, but through balance and refinement, making it ideal for artisan chocolate makers seeking an elegant and discreet expression of Venezuelan terroir.