Not bad at all. What is bad, however, is the type of business that we as customers choose to support.
When we first started our small specialty chocolate store, we focused on South America—not just because of direct contact, but because we’ve seen firsthand how cacao, when part of the right initiatives, can be a tool for positive change. That’s something we wanted to be part of and support. But amazing initiatives aren’t limited by geography (and neither are the bad ones). That’s why transparency is so important.
A transparent supply chain ensures that every step of the process is tailored to the specific cacao being used. That attention to detail begins at the farm, where farmers follow post-harvest processes developed through extensive testing and refinement. Transparency also ensures that farmers receive fair compensation and are encouraged to maintain high-quality, sustainable practices.
When it comes to African cacao, there are a few notable initiatives worth mentioning:
Tanzania – Kokoa Kamili
Kokoa Kamili was founded by local entrepreneurs who established a central fermentation center. In many cacao-growing regions, farmers lack the resources or incentives to ferment their beans properly – or at all, which lowers the quality. Kokoa Kamili supports farmers by purchasing wet beans, managing fermentation and drying, and paying higher prices for better quality. This allows farmers to focus on growing exceptional cacao while improving the overall quality of the beans.
Uganda – Semuliki Forest (Latitude Cacao)
Semuliki Forest is the trade name for cacao produced by Latitude Cacao in Uganda. Founded by Jeff Steinberg, an American who moved to Uganda, the company crafts chocolate using locally sourced cacao. Jeff works closely with farmers to produce and export fine cacao beans while supporting community development.
These two examples are among the most recognized in the craft chocolate world, though several other promising initiatives are emerging across Africa.
So no, we don’t exclude an entire market as “evil.” We cut out bad practices and support the ones that are worth it.