Guatemalan Chocolate

Guatemala is forest land, far more hospitable to trees than almost any other vegetation. The deep roots from cacao trees protect against erosion, preserving the land naturally during hurricanes and violent rains common to Guatemala, while at the same time capturing enormous amounts carbon from the atmosphere.

The “Eco-region Lachuá” around Lake Lachuá is home to 143 Q’eqchi’ Maya families, many of whom live off-grid and rely on the production of cacao, honey, cardamom, corn and other crops for their livelihoods. The cacao farmers are organized into two certified organic community associations, ASODIRP and K’ATB’ALPOM, each with its own fermentation and drying operation. Lachuá communities have planted over 245 hectares of new cacao since 2014.