So where do you think chocolate comes from?

Chocolate begins with the Cacao, also known as the cocoa tree which grows in the tropical rainforests of South America. In the Ashaninka region of Peru the fruit of the Cacao tree provides a valuable income for the indigenous community.

This small understory tree thrives in the shade of the canopy giants. But the Ashaninka community has also made small clearings where they can grow the Cacao tree as a crop in order to harvest the chocolate pods.

The trees live up to about 100 years, growing to 15 metres in height. They flower all year long with the buds growing straight out of the trunk. It takes about 5 to 8 months for a bud to turn into a ripe fruit. The large orange pods contain large seeds which are dried and fermented and turned into cocoa, a key ingredient in chocolate.  It's widely believed that the explorer, Christopher Columbus first introduced cocoa beans to Europe between 1502 and 1504. However, he also brought back many other treasures and on board his galleons which seemed far more exciting, so failed to see the potential of the humble cocoa bean.

Protect a Cacao tree and help protect indigenous livelihoods. 

The chocolate gardens cultivated by the community of Cutivireni strike a balance between sustainable agro-income from "chocolate" trees and conservation of the forest. Some of the trees grow under larger trees although small clearings are necessary for saplings. The villagers here in the Ashaninka region producing around 8 tonnes of Cacao beans per year which they sell to a cooperative near the frontier town of Satipo.

Jaime taking produce to Satipo by river

The Cuti Chocolate Producers formed two years ago with Jaime as president. This means the villagers now travel by river and road to take their produce direct to a buying and processing cooperative in Satipo. They achieve a far better price through this method rather than selling to river traders on the Rio Ene. Once in Satipo the beans from the Cacao pods are dried and fermented.

Although the villagers of Cutivireni in Peru harvest the Cacao beans very few of them have actually tasted what it will be made into. The pulp of the Cacao pod tastes nothing like chocolate.

The next step for the association is to achieve organic or fairtrade certification for their chocolate ingredients.

When areas of rainforest are deforested Cacao trees are also lost. You can protect a Cacao tree now and help sustain this project.