2025 BEST 50

Since 2009, Cacao of Excellence has been the entry point for cacao producers to participate in the Cacao of Excellence Awards, the most prestigious global cacao competition that recognises the work of cacao farmers and celebrates the quality and flavour diversity of cacao produced around the world. Held every two years, the Cacao of Excellence Awards bring together leading sensory evaluation experts and the chocolate industry to reward producers of excellence. By empowering producers, Cacao of Excellence works to drive the expansion of superior quality cacao to ensure that a greater share of cacao producers prosper.

For this 2025 Edition, Cacao of Excellence received 191 cacao bean samples from 45 origins. A detailed physical evaluation was carried out and all accepted beans were processed into cacao mass at the Cacao of Excellence R&D Laboratory. Blind sensory evaluations were then carried out by members of the Cacao of Excellence Technical Committee from June to September 2025. Based on this blind sensory evaluation, the Best 50 samples have been selected for the 2025 Edition.

We invite you to discover the Best 50 selected from the four cacao-producing regions worldwide.These Best 50 will advance to the next stage of the Cacao of Excellence Awards. Processed into dark chocolate following the same recipe, the Best 50 will be evaluated by a distinguished jury of cacao and chocolate professionals to determine the Gold, Silver and Bronze award recipients. These winners will be announced at the Cacao of Excellence Awards Ceremony on 20 February, 2026 at the Chocoa Trade Fair, in Amsterdam, Netherlands during Amsterdam Cocoa Week. Click here to attend Chocoa and discover the Award winners!

Africa and the Indian Ocean

Origin	Producer Name Town, Region \| Producer Type \| Original Sample ID \| Type of sample
Cameroon	Société Coopérative avec Conseil d'Administration de la Production et Commercialisation du Cacao (OLUN BE PLANTEURS) Kye - Ossi — François 2 ATANGANA ONANA B.p : 50 kye-ossi, Kye-ossi, Valle du Ntem, Sud \| Cooperative \| CMR-02 \| Commercial
Côte d’Ivoire	CNRA / DIVO Divo, Divo, Lôh djiboua \| Research Centre \| E8div \| Experimental
Côte d’Ivoire	Patrick Klossail Grand yapo, Agboville, Abidjan, Agneby-tiassa \| Individual producer \| E6agb \| Commercial
Côte d’Ivoire	Bounni Sanon Apiadji, Adzope, Lagune, La me \| Individual producer \| E7adz \| Commercial
Ghana	Isaac Nyampong P.O. BOX 12, Atala House, Takyikrom, Okorekrom, Asante Akim South, Ashanti Region \| Individual producer \| Gh03 \| Commercial
Ghana	Otu Kabu David P.O. BOX 12, Atala House, Takyikrom, Kpone Praso, Asante Akim South, Ashanti Region \| Individual producer \| Gh02 \| Commercial
Ghana	Isaac Asirifi Darko Ee-1881-5851, Osiem, Abuakwa north, Eastern \| Individual producer \| Gh04 \| Commercial
Madagascar	Claudio Mananjara Mangabe, Ambanja, Ambanja, Diana \| Individual producer \| D \| Commercial
Madagascar	Voankazomamy Ambahatra, Ambanja, Ambanja, Diana \| Cooperative \| K \| Commercial
Nigeria	Festus Osatuyi Adedubu Community, Akure, Akure North LGC, Ondo State \| Individual producer \| Fqn 205 \| Commercial
Togo	USCPCC IBA "COOP-CA" - Koffi EKOUADJI Ekoutsefo, Badou, Wawa, Plateaux \| Cooperative \| CoEx-25 TG N0018 \| Commercial
Togo	USCPCC IBA "COOP-CA" - Aboudou-Moumouni MAMAN Kessibo, Kessibo, Wawa, Plateaux-Ouest \| Cooperative \| CoEx-25 TG N0013 \| Commercial

Asia and the Pacific

Origin	Producer Name Town, Region \| Producer Type \| Original Sample ID \| Type of sample
Hawaii	Kamananui Cacao Orchards 67-172 Farrington Hwy Unit C, Waialua, Oahu, Hawaii \| Private estate \| 24791 \| Commercial
Hawaii	Benjamin Field 47-501 Ahilama Rd, Kaneohe \| Individual producer \| 24732 \| Commercial
Hawaii	Honolii Orchards 1533 Puia Road, Hilo, Hilo, Hawaii \| Individual producer \| 24721 \| Commercial
India	Bon Fiction and Abburi Subbarao 81-28-19A, Kanchana nagar. Andhra Pradesh -533103, Rajamahendravaram \| Multi-actor or other \| Godavari \| Commercial
Indonesia	PT. Kudeungoe Sugata Indonesia Titi Pasir, Kutacane, Aceh Tenggara, Aceh Province \| Producer association \| 156 \| Commercial
Indonesia	Minang Kakao Padang Sago, Padang Pariaman, Padang Pariaman, West Sumatera \| Private estate \| 126 \| Commercial
Myanmar	Ananda Cocoa ltd Kalei Aung, Kalei Aung, Tanintharyi, Tanintharyi \| Private estate \| A10-2024 \| Commercial
Taiwan	Chih Pei Mo New-Dongshi Village, Neipu Township, Pingtung City, Taiwan \| Individual producer \| T029 \| Commercial
Taiwan	Bok Lian Lau No 21-1, Xinmin Rd., Wanluan Township, Pingtung County, Taiwan \| Individual producer \| T014 \| Commercial
Taiwan	ZHENG HONG Lin Xinmin Village, Mingjian Township, Nantou County, Taiwan \| Individual producer \| T021 \| Commercial
Thailand	Roong Kumpan 338/2 TinTin Station, Namchuet, Kraburi, Ranong, Thailand \| Individual producer \| Thailand-Ranong \| Commercial
Thailand	Taluang Cocoa 210 Moo 6 Naluangsen, Thungsong, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Southern Thailand \| Individual producer \| Thailand-Thungsong \| Commercial
Thailand	Somsak Jinaphan 63, Sawi, Chumphon, Southern, Thailand \| Individual producer \| Thailand-Sawi \| Commercial
Philippines	Apoy Benit's Cacao Agricultural Farming Brgy. dagum, Calbayog city, Viii \| Private estate \| Pcqa2024-075 \| Commercial
Philippines	David Christopher dela Serna Purok 7, barangay tacunan, Davao city, Tugbok, Xi \| Individual producer \| Pcqa2024-147 \| Commercial

Central America and the Caribbean

Origin	Producer Name Town, Region \| Producer Type \| Original Sample ID \| Type of sample
Costa Rica	Hacienda Dos Lagunas Los llanos de Florida Siquirres, 500 metros oeste de la escuela Bonilla, Florida, Siquirres \| Private estate \| Qm-9j \| Commercial
Dominican Republic	Finca Cacao Las Mujeres Café Las Mujeres, Barahona, San Rafael, Sur \| Individual producer \| Bhon-001 \| Commercial
El Salvador	Luis Antonio Arias Nájera & Mónica Monti Perla La FinQuina, Caserío Miramar, Cantón San Antonio, Usulután, Concepción Batres, Bahía de Jiquilisco \| Individual producer \| 407 \| Commercial
El Salvador	Asociación Cafetalera Alpina S.A. de C.V. - Cyrille Beraud Caserio La Placita, Cantón Conacastal, Chinameca, San Miguel Oeste, Oriental \| Producer association \| 489 \| Commercial
Guatemala	Kampura Sociedad Anonima km.305.5 carre a Peten, caqui creek, Livingston, Izabal, Guatemala \| Private estate \| 708 \| Commercial
Puerto Rico	David Valentin Bayon Carretera 433, km 102, San Sebastián, Barrio Mirabales, Sector Mirabales, NorOeste \| Individual producer \| 2 \| Commercial
Puerto Rico	Hacienda Terruño JS Rd 802, km 5.5, Naranjito, Puerto Rico \| Private estate \| 3 \| Experimental
Trinidad and Tobago	Deosaran Jagroo Guaico tamana road, nestor village, Sangre grande \| Individual producer \| 69500474 \| Commercial
Trinidad and Tobago	Mariella Pierre-Peschier Brasso Seco Extension, Main Road Paria, Brasso Seco, St George \| Individual producer \| 569348568 \| Commercial
Trinidad and Tobago	Carlisle Pemberton 2 Mile Mark, Warden Road, Sangre Grande, St Andrew \| Individual producer \| 328500700 \| Commercial

South America

Origin	Producer Name Town, Region \| Producer Type \| Original Sample ID \| Type of sample
Bolivia	Comunidad Santa Rosa de Boca - Asociacion de Recolectores de cacao silvestre Yuracare Comunidad Santa Rosa de Boca, Cochabamba, Tropico - Cochabamba, Tropico \| Producer association \| Pavo real \| Commercial
Bolivia	Comunidad El Carmen - Asociacion de Recolectores de cacao silvestre Yuracare Comunidad El Carmen, Cochabamba, Tropico - Cochabamba, Tropico \| Producer association \| Gorrion \| Commercial
Brazil	Fazenda Santa Cruz Agricola Cantagalo Ltda Fazenda Boa Vista, Região do Cajueiro Taboquinhas, SN. Fazenda Santa Cruz, Itacaré, Bahia \| Private estate \| 1211 \| Commercial
Brazil	Gilmar Batista de Souza Chácara Sumaúma, Uruará, Pará \| Individual producer \| 1384 \| Commercial
Brazil	Leomar Silva Vieira Sítio Alvorada, Medicilândia, Pará \| Individual producer \| 1377 \| Commercial
Colombia	Adela Santamaría Vereda El Guadual, Municipio San Vicente de Chucurí, Na, Departamento de Santander \| Individual producer \| Fmcol001 \| Commercial
Ecuador	Bean&Co Processing Beanprocessing S.A. Km6.5 via safando, km50 via la costa, Cerecita - guayaquil, Costa \| Private estate \| C005 \| Commercial
Ecuador	A&D Sanchez Cocoa Export Panamericana km 1 via pueblo viejo, Ventanas, Ventanas, Los rios \| Private estate \| C002 \| Commercial
Ecuador	Costa Esmeraldas Cacao co. Abdón calderon-tonchigue, Atacames, Esmeraldas, Costa \| Private estate \| C012 \| Commercial
Peru	Cooperativa Agraria Norandino LTDA - Eduardo Espinoza Tamariz La Quemazón, La Quemazón, San Juan de Bigote, Piura \| Cooperative \| Muestra1 \| Commercial
Peru	Cooperativa Agraria APROCAM Carretera Bagua-Copallin Km 4 1/2, Bagua, Bagua, Amazonas \| Cooperative \| Muestra2 \| Commercial
Peru	Cooperativa Agraria APPROCAP LTDA Calle Jose Carlos Mariàtegui S/N, Morropòn, San Juan de Bigote, Piura \| Cooperative \| Muestra3 \| Commercial
Venezuela	Ricardo Lozada Hacienda El Recreo, Sector La Copa, Montalban, Carabobo \| Individual producer \| Ven-Cab-93-VE-G-25 \| Commercial