To'ak Chocolate

The chocolate bars are produced using the rare Nacional variety of cocoa bean, which some experts thought was extinct.[6][3] Groves of cocoa trees producing the Nacional variety were discovered in the valley of Piedra de Plata located in the mountains of the Arriba cacao-growing region of Ecuador, in the province called Manabi. DNA analysis confirmed that the beans were comprised purely of the Nacional genotype.[6][7][8]

To'ak Chocolate product example

The chocolate bar is handcrafted, and production involves fermenting the cocoa beans.[9][10][11][12] It has been considered to be one of the most expensive in the world, with prices ranging from $270-$375 for a 50-gram bar.[9][13][14][15][16][17] The chocolate bar is composed entirely of the Nacional cocoa bean, with a slight amount of cane sugar added.[6][13] In the middle of the bar is a single roasted cacao bean, showcasing the unadulterated flavor of Nacional Cacao and serving as a reminder where chocolate comes from.[18] To'ak chocolate is pure chocolate, not embellished with nuts, gold dust, or ganache, as is the case with some of the world's other expensive chocolates.[19] Each bar of chocolate comes in a Spanish Elm wooden box and has the individual bar number engraved in the back.[18][20]

The company's products include the Vintage 2014 edition that was aged for three years in a French oak cognac cask.[21] The company ages bars in wood casks and empty spirit casks.[22][23] They have been described as a "boundary-pushing chocolate company"[24] for launching a bar of dark chocolate that has been aged for 18 months in a 50-year-old Cognac cask.[25][26][27] They have also aged chocolate for two years in a Laphroaig Islay whisky cask.[28][29][30]

Piedra de Plata team of cacao farmers

Planting "Nacional" cacao saplings in the rainforest preserve

In January 2016, To’ak's cacao was designated Heirloom by the Heirloom Cacao Preservation Fund (HCP).[31][32] To’ak also has social and environmental objectives in mind. Their product is organic and fair trade and they partner with the Ecuador-based rainforest conservation foundation Third Millennium Alliance.[3] To’ak and the foundation are currently working together to preserve this endangered cacao variety by DNA grafting and planting of new seedlings in a protected area in Ecuador[31][33] To'ak co-founder, Jerry Toth, has written a Nacional cacao conservation blog which serves as an extensive guide for environmentally friendly cacao cultivation techniques based on permaculture.[31]

The company provides lodging accommodations at its rural farm, named Finca Sarita.[9][10][17] The company has also been involved with Washington State University, in a partnership involving the research of tannins.[34]

• Official website