🧪 Purity & Testing
Heavy metals like lead and cadmium can occur naturally in soil, especially in volcanic regions. However, industrial pollution, mining, and poor post-harvest practices can increase the levels of these toxic elements in cacao beans. Once ingested, heavy metals accumulate in the body and have been linked to serious health issues—especially neurological damage, kidney dysfunction, and developmental delays in children.
This is why rigorous testing is a non-negotiable part of our process at Cacao Adventures.
We test every batch of our ceremonial-grade cacao through accredited third-party laboratories to ensure it meets or exceeds the most stringent safety standards. This is not just about compliance—this is about integrity, health, and trust.
Heavy metals often show up in cacao when the beans are exposed to contaminated soil or processed improperly. Many large-scale producers of "brewing cacao" use leftover husks or low-grade remnants from the chocolate industry—parts that are more likely to carry heavy metal contamination. In contrast, we use only the finest, whole cacao beans sourced directly from trusted farmers.
Testing is also a formal requirement within our HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) food safety plan. It ensures accountability across every part of our supply chain—from post-harvest handling to packaging. This level of care is especially critical because ceremonial cacao is often consumed in larger quantities than conventional chocolate.
What truly sets Cacao Adventures apart is that our commitment to clean cacao starts at the source. Jose works directly with farmers, offering training on post-harvest practices that help minimize contamination risk and improve quality. These partnerships are based on long-term trust, and we pay above-market prices to reward farmers for producing clean, exceptional cacao.
Your cacao ritual should be a source of clarity, not concern. That’s why at Cacao Adventures, we back every bar, coin, and bean with testing, transparency, and heart.
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.