Today was a special day on the farm—not just because of another bountiful harvest, but also because it marked the first time Jemai, our newest member, joined us for the cacao harvest. We’ve been eagerly anticipating Jemai’s arrival since she officially became part of our team on November 20. Jemai isn’t your ordinary worker; she’s …

Diary of a Cacao Farmer: Meet Jemai, Our Newest Farmhand Read More »

Today marked the beginning of the drying process for our freshly fermented cacao beans. After fermentation, it’s essential to dry the beans to reduce their moisture content, ideally to around 7%. High moisture levels can lead to spoilage, mold growth, and the development of undesirable flavors. We transferred the beans to an elevated platform inside …

A Day in the Life of a Cacao Farmer: Drying of Beans Read More »

Today was a bustling day here on the cacao farm. The team and I spent the morning harvesting the ripe cacao pods, each one a bright burst of color against the lush greenery. It’s always satisfying to see the fruits of our labor ready for the next step in the chocolate-making process. Carefully, we extracted …

A Day in the Life of a Cacao Farmer: Pod Breaking and Fermentation Read More »

It’s been an eventful week at the farm, one marked by both challenges and triumphs. Just like most parts of the Philippines, our farm was hit by Typhoon Helen. The storm was fierce, and we braced ourselves for the worst, watching as the winds howled and rain poured down in sheets. When the skies finally …

Resilience Amidst the Storm: A Farm’s Journey Through Challenges and Abundance Read More »