First Seguine Cacao Auction Confirms Premium Value for Recognised Quality and Flavour
Amsterdam, 20 February 2026 - The inaugural Seguine Cacao Auction, held during Amsterdam Cocoa Week, demonstrated that recognised cacao quality and exceptional flavour can achieve substantial market value.
Hosted at the historic Beurs van Berlage, the former Amsterdam commodity exchange, the auction brought together award-winning cacao producers and premium buyers in a setting long associated with global trade.
The auction is a collaborative initiative of The Company Behind Chocoa, the Cacao of Excellence Programme, and Daarnhouwer & Co.. It aims to link verified cacao excellence directly to market mechanisms, strengthen sector resilience, promote sustainable development, and reward producers who invest in quality and flavour at origin.
Six exceptional lots from Costa Rica, Guatemala, Indonesia, Mexico, Peru, and Thailand were presented for sale. Each had previously been recognised for outstanding quality and flavour through earlier editions of the Cacao of Excellence Awards. For this inaugural edition, producers prepared exclusive batches ranging from 200 to 500 kg, offered specifically for the auction.
Interest was global. More than 35 registered bidders from over 20 countries across Asia, Europe, North and South America participated both in person and by telephone. As bidding unfolded, competition pushed prices beyond mainstream market levels, highlighting that cacao excellence is increasingly valued in the marketplace.
In total, 2,090 kg of cacao were sold, generating a total value of over €40,000. The average price reached €19.51 per kilo, compared to the prevailing terminal market price of €2.63 per kilo (based on the London cacao price at the Intercontinental Exchange and pound/euro exchange rate). The results demonstrate clearly that recognised quality can command a significant premium.
The event also brought origin directly into the trading space. Producers Rosaura Laura (Peru) and José María Pascacio Muñoz (Mexico) were present to personally introduce their lots, emphasising the link between excellence at origin and the value realised in the market.
As the closing event of Amsterdam Cocoa Week, which convened more than 3,000 cacao stakeholders from across the value chain, the auction marked a strong statement of intent for the sector. The contributions of the buyers were particularly meaningful, helping to recognise and reward quality while setting a precedent for future market recognition.
Named in honour of Ed Seguine, whose dedication to recognising and rewarding cacao quality has had a lasting impact on the sector, the inaugural auction carried particular significance, with the presence of the Seguine family making the event even more meaningful. The auction is set to return next year for a second edition, with the ambition of featuring more lots, more producers, and more buyers, continuing to celebrate and reward excellence, flavour, and origin.
Auction Results
Lot | Producer | Country | Volume (kg) | Highest Bid | Total value | Buyer |
1 | Chocolatéra El Volcan | Costa Rica | 350 | € 14,00 | € 4,900 | Terve Chocolate |
2 | Grupo Kampura | Guatemala | 500 | € 8,00 | € 4,000 | York Cocoa Works |
3 | P.T. Ebier Suth Cokran Cooperative | Indonesia | 500 | € 19,50 | € 9,750 | Senmar Chocolate Maker |
4 | Finca La Rioja | Mexico | 240 | € 26,50 | € 6,360 | Dormouse Chocolates |
5 | Liliana Laura Vila, Finca Nueva Esperanza | Peru | 300 | € 32,50 | € 9,750 | Senmar Chocolate Maker |
6 | Bean to Bar Chocolate Chanthaburi | Thailand | 200 | € 30,50 | € 6,100 | Senmar Chocolate Maker |
About the Cacao of Excellence Programme
The Cacao of Excellence Programme is a global awards, research and capacity-building platform that identifies and evaluates high-performing cacao through blind technical and sensory assessment. Operating from its Research and Development Laboratory and Training Centre, the programme establishes an internationally comparable reference framework for cacao flavour.
Working with national institutions and producers, it strengthens evaluation systems, builds sensory capacity, and supports transparent recognition of quality within the global cacao sector. Cacao of Excellence is a programme of the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT.
About Chocoa
Organised by The Company Behind Chocoa in cooperation with the Chocolate Festival Foundation, CHOCOA is dedicated to creating a world with more sustainable cacao—the foundation for better chocolate. Chocoa envisions a world where cacao production benefits farmers, their communities and the environment. A world where high-quality chocolate is accessible to environmentally conscious consumers everywhere.
About Daarnhouwer Co.
Founded in 1908 and based in Amsterdam, Daarnhouwer & Co. is one of the world’s leading specialty cacao traders. The company is dedicated to sourcing and supplying high-quality cacao beans from origins around the globe, working closely with producers to promote transparency, traceability and long-term partnerships. Daarnhouwer & Co. believes that recognising and rewarding quality at origin is essential to building a more sustainable and resilient cocoa sector where quality is valued and farmers are fairly rewarded for their work.
