Last October 1st was the National Day of Cocoa and Chocolate in Peru, and this was the perfect occasion to prize the work of ten Peruvian producers of cocoa, who were awarded with The Search for Peru’s Golden Cocoa 2014 (Buscando el Cacao de Oro del Perú 2014), in recognition for cultivating the finest, flavored and aromatic cocoa beans of the country.

The selection process was carried out between January and September this year in 14 potential cocoa departments: Amazonas, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Cusco, Huanuco, Junin, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Pasco, Piura, Puno, San Martin, Tumbes and Ucayali.

A team of expert tasters of the National Network of Tasters and Peruvians Chocolate Makers were responsible for the identification, selection and characteristics that must meet the finest cocoa flavor and aroma. Basic technical criteria were taken into account so they can do morphological characterization of fruits, seeds and sensory evaluation (at pulp and cocoa liquor).

The event is held through an organizing committee of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (MINAGRI), the National Commission for Development and Life without Drugs (DEVIDA), the Peruvian Cocoa Growers Association (APPCACAO), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Alliance Cacao Peru.

In 2013, cocoa production reached 71,894 tons in 97.611 has, which generated about 7.2 million days per year, directly benefiting more than 45,000 families and indirectly 225,000 thousand people in areas production, mainly from the jungle.