From 191 samples representing 45 origins, international flavour experts have selected the 2025 Best 50 cacaos and their producers. Part of the 2025 Cacao of Excellence Awards, the Best 50 highlights exceptional quality, diversity, and farmer dedication.
Rome, 23 September 2025 — The Cacao of Excellence Programme, hosted by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, has revealed the 2025 Best 50 cacaos and producers, a recognition that puts smallholder farmers and their work on the global stage.
The full list is available here: www.cacaoofexcellence.org/2025-awards/2025-best-50
For this edition, 191 samples from 45 cacao origins were processed at the Cacao of Excellence R&D Laboratory, where each sample underwent physical analysis and was processed into cacao mass under standard protocols for subsequent sensory evaluation. The blind-coded samples were then evaluated by the Cacao of Excellence Technical Committee, an independent group of international flavour experts ensuring impartiality and scientific rigour.
The Best 50 provides farmers with international visibility and recognition, strengthening their opportunities to connect with chocolate makers, buyers, and markets that value quality.
What happens next
The Best 50 are now being processed into dark chocolates using a standard recipe at the Cacao of Excellence R&D Laboratory, ensuring that flavour differences reflect the cacao itself. These chocolates will be blind-tasted by an international jury of sensory experts, whose evaluations
will determine the Gold, Silver, and Bronze recognitions to be presented at the Cacao of Excellence Awards Ceremony on 20 February 2026, during Amsterdam Cocoa Week at the Chocoa Trade Fair.
Celebrating the producers
“The Best 50 is an important step for farmers,” said Julien Simonis, Programme Manager of the Cacao of Excellence Programme. “It brings their dedication and skill to the attention of the international chocolate community, opening doors to recognition and better market access. Each cacao reflects extraordinary quality and the hard work of the people who produce it.”
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About Cacao of Excellence
The Cacao of Excellence Programme, hosted by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, is the global reference for cacao quality and flavour. By combining scientific rigour with international recognition, it connects farmers to markets that reward excellence. Through training, research, and its global awards platform, Cacao of Excellence strengthens the value of cacao diversity, supports producers in improving quality, and drives progress toward sustainable livelihoods, equitable market access for producers, and resilient value chains.
About the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT is a CGIAR research organization delivering science-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity to sustainably transform food systems. Operating from more than 45 countries, the Alliance works at the nexus of agriculture, nutrition, environment, and livelihoods to drive climate resilience, boost productivity, and reduce hunger. Its work spans from conserving key crop diversity to improving farm-level systems and connecting farmers with markets, all with the goal of making food systems and landscapes more equitable, resilient, and nourishing. For more information, visit: www.cacaoofexcellence.org/2025-awards/2025-best-50
Media contact:
Nadia Villaseñor
Communications Lead
Cacao of Excellence
N.Villasenor@cgiar.org
