Direct and transparent trade relationships are at the core of our sales operations. At 12Tree, we believe that in the face of volatile markets, trade relationships must be consistent, based on long-term alliances in which fair prices reflect the added value of regenerative and sustainable agricultural practices. By achieving higher and stable prices for our cacao beans we can, in turn, guarantee fair wages and a thriving work environment for our cacao farmers. One of our long-term cacao buyers is the chocolatier La Flor. The Swiss bean-to-bar chocolatier manufactures first-class, hand-made chocolate products using exclusively ethically and sustainably sourced cacao beans from small producers which they have personally met.
Our team has been pleased to welcome the team of La Flor at Hacienda Limon several times during the past years. Chocolatiers like La Flor make it possible to achieve fair sales prices that are resilient to market fluctuations. In this way we are able to guarantee fair income for our farm workers that withstand global challenges such as the pandemic. High quality standards are at the core of our cacao production to maintain these vital relationships with buyers. Ivo Müller is the co-founder and Head of Sales at La Flor. We wanted to know about his principles for choosing good cacao and what makes Hacienda Limon one of his top choices for La Flor’s handcrafted bean-to-bar chocolate.
Please tell us a little more about the founding of La Flor. How did your love for chocolate begin and develop?
My love for chocolate began in childhood, as I believe many people do, but my passion for making chocolate began in the 2000s when I learned to care for and cut cacao trees with my father at Faziebda Vera Cruz. I was able to help with harvesting and fermenting and learned a lot about the importance of biodiversity integrity in agroforestry.
What does it take to make excellent chocolate? What role do the cocoa beans play?
It plays a major role. For excellent chocolate you need excellent cacao - without high quality raw material you can't make excellent handcrafted chocolate.
What factors influence the quality of cocoa beans?
Chocolate quality can be evaluated similar to wine quality. Similar to grapes, cacao should be grown under the best conditions. Important factors are therefore local microclimate, soil conditions as well as the knowledge and experience of the farmers in the post-harvest process.
What is important to you when selecting cocoa beans for La Flor chocolate?
Our goal is to sell a product with complete integrity, i.e. safe, socially and environmentally responsible, with its own flavor profile and unique character. It is of great concern to us that social and environmental values are respected at the origin and implemented by the cocoa producers with their own conviction.
Please tell us a little more about your visit to 12Tree Farm Hacienda Limon. What makes this farm one of your top choices for cacao beans?
Hacienda Limon is unique in terms of the Arriba Nacional variety and also the post-harvest work is rather special, it is a real Heirloom Cacao. Moreover, it has perfect soil conditions for the nutty-fruity Arriba Nacional Cacao taste.
What makes Hacienda Limon cacao special?
The team of La Flor visiting Hacienda Limon.
For us, Hacienda Limon cacao is the symbol of Arriba Nacional cacao. The classic, slightly hazelnutty, fruity aroma is very popular with our customers. We are very pleased that 12Tree continues to select and promote the Nacional varieties at this plantation. We strongly believe that the Heirloom Cacao Preservation Fund will continue to nominate them. Moreover, Hacienda Limon cacao is grown organically, and we meet the same employees at all our visits on site. This speaks for excellent quality with high ethical standards.
What products does La Flor make with Hacienda Limon cacao?
We have several products with Hacienda Limon cacao in our range, but the 74% is one of our best-selling chocolate bars and right after that comes the 56% dark milk chocolate.
What is your vision for the future of La Flor chocolate?
We will continue to focus on exquisite, unique origin chocolates - which are our core competence.
Learn more about La Flor chocolate and their exclusive products made from Hacienda Limon cacao.
Learn more about Hacienda Limon featured on La Flor’s website.
Interested in buying our cacao? Click here.
Photos: LaFlor
We grow more than 10 principle crop species on our farms, from woody perennials such as coffee and cacao to spices such as cardamom to forestry species for timber production. All our agricultural products are produced using regenerative farming practices and are marketed directly through our own sales channels. The year 2021 was characterized by various challenges not only for our operations but also for our sales. Next to the pandemic which has changed international trade dramatically, the Ukrainian crisis has shown immediate effects on the global food markets. Complex market fluctuations caused by lockdown policies, price volatility, increasing transportation costs and changes in consumer behaviour have created imbalances in global shipping and sales. These are examined in more detail by Jaume Martorell Mir, Head of Sales at 12Tree in our 2022 Sustainability Report. In addition, Jaume describes our strategy to ensure fair and cost efficient distribution despite these challenges.