At Cacao Adventures, we often get asked if our cacao is certified organic. The answer is simple: we’re truly organic—but not officially certified, and here’s why.
Many of the communities we source from, like the Awajún in the Amazon, are located in some of the most remote regions of Peru. To reach one of these villages, it might take a one-hour flight from Lima, a twelve-hour drive from Chiclayo, a two-hour boat ride, and then up to an eight hour walk through the jungle where lodging in these small village is absolutely necessary. Getting a third-party certifier to these areas is not only logistically challenging - it’s almost impossible at a reasonable price.
As a result, only large co-ops with more infrastructure, closer to urban centers and with considerable funding can afford to get certified organic. But rest assured: the cacao we source is grown deep in the jungle, where chemical inputs are not only avoided culturally—they’re unavailable. These communities don’t use pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. Their farming is rooted in ancestral practices that preserve soil health and biodiversity. Cacao has been growing in this land for thousands of years.
In fact, the remoteness of these regions makes them some of the purest ecosystems left on Earth. There’s simply no incentive or access to use anything artificial.
So while we may not carry the USDA Certified Organic label, we stand behind the purity of our cacao. Our trust is built on direct relationships, transparency, and deep respect for the land and the people who steward it.
Because real organic doesn’t always come with a stamp - it comes with a story.
Author
Jose Visconti - Founder and COO of Cacao Adventures
Background & Expertise
Jose has worked with Chocolate and Cacao since 2014 in various capacities; as an Agricultural Liaison for Bean-to-Bar chocolate companies, as a consultant to the International Trade Center, as a sourcer of Specialty Beans where he worked with Internationally renowned chefs, as the Chief of R&D and operations manager for specialty chocolate manufacturers. Jose has travelled throughout many parts of Peru to search for specialty cacao and holds unique knowledge in harvest and post-harvest processes that unlock the full potential of unique and special cacao beans.
Personal Connection to the Topic
Jose is not only a chocolate lover, but a nature and travel enthusiast as well. When he learned the full story of cacao, and how the original wild strains of cacao were in danger of extinction, he took it upon himself to find the right people on both sides of the supply chain to bring this issue to light through communication and product development; not just using words, but creating irresistible chocolate and cacao products to highlight the importance of preservation.
Mention why this work matters to them—especially if there's a cultural or emotional tie.