UNROASTED COCOA BEANS - THAILAND Chanthaburi Chaisutti Farm

The cocoa beans are fermented and dried, not roasted.

This cocoa originates from Chanthaburi Province, located on the southeastern coast of the Gulf of Thailand. The region is renowned for its waterfalls, mountains, nature reserves, lush tropical forests, and abundant tropical fruit. In Chanthaburi, cocoa trees are cultivated in agroforestry gardens alongside tropical plants and shade trees, creating an environment that promotes the slow and healthy development of the cocoa pods.

Khun Suriya Chaisutti and his wife, Boom Khun, are among the pioneers of a new generation of Thai cocoa farmers. Today, they lead a network of 40 farmers, providing them with training, resources, and reliable market access to support the long-term sustainability of cocoa cultivation.

In 1992, ten additional cocoa varieties were imported from the University of Reading in the United Kingdom to explore the potential of growing cocoa alongside coconut palms and to support the development of Thailand's cocoa industry at the Chumphon Horticultural Research Centre.

Quality and Post-Harvest Processing

The Chaisutti Farm focuses on centralizing the fermentation and drying of cocoa beans, ensuring consistent quality across every harvest. Today, Suriya Farm supports its network of growers by supplying cocoa seedlings and sharing knowledge of sustainable agricultural practices. Cocoa cultivation has become a valuable new source of income for neighboring farmers and is particularly well suited to agroforestry systems.

Technical Details

• Fermentation: 6 days
• Drying: 7 days on average
• Variety: Chumphon 1 Hybrid
• Harvest Season: November – May

Flavor Profile

Bright notes of lemon and lemongrass, refreshing citrus acidity, balsamic undertones, and tropical fruit flavors, including pineapple and mango.

The Chaisutti Farm in the Chanthaburi region is a remarkable example of modern tropical agriculture built upon generations of local farming traditions. Located in an area known for its humid climate, dense vegetation, and fertile soils, the farm has been developed by a family that has cultivated the land for generations, transforming cocoa production into a carefully managed activity deeply connected to the surrounding natural environment. Chanthaburi has long been recognized as one of Thailand's leading fruit-growing regions, and the introduction of cocoa trees has been a natural evolution, thanks to the area's ideal growing conditions.