About the lab
The Cacao of Excellence R&D Laboratory supports global efforts to evaluate, understand and improve cacao quality. At our facility in Perugia, we conduct physical and sensory analysis, produce cacao mass and chocolate for international evaluation, and develop sensory and processing skills across the sector.
Our work combines scientific methods, controlled processing and training to build a shared, reliable understanding of cacao quality and flavour.
What we do
Scientific Analysis & Research
Processing for the Cacao of Excellence Awards
Training & Capacity Building
Our global work
We collaborate with national cacao sectors, producer groups, research institutions and private companies to strengthen sensory capacity, post-harvest practices and shared understanding of cacao quality in producing countries.
Training & Capacity Building
Services
Products
Latest News
Indonesian Researchers Strengthen Capacity Around Cacao Flavour Evaluation and Quality Assessment
As cacao-producing countries increasingly seek to strengthen their own capacity around flavour evaluation, processing innovation and quality… [+ more]
What NPR’s feature reveals about the future of cacao quality
NPR recently featured the work of Cacao of Excellence in a story exploring one of the central challenges facing the cacao sector today: while cacao… [+ more]
First Seguine Cacao Auction Confirms Premium Value for Recognised Quality and Flavour
First Seguine Cacao Auction Confirms Premium Value for Recognised Quality and Flavour Amsterdam, 20 February 2026 - The inaugural Seguine Cacao… [+ more]