Cacao in Taiwan

Did you know there are cacao farms in Taiwan? If your answer is "no", join us to discover the cacao in Taiwan!

After a series of train and bus connections to Pingtung in southern Taiwan, we were greeted by banana trees, areca nut (betel nut) palms, coconut palms, and the intense tropical heat!

The Very First Cacao Tree

In 1937 when Taiwan was under Japanese Colonization, Taichiro Morinaga, founder of Japan's confectionary company, attempted to plant Indonesian varieties of cocoa in Pingtung. Unfortunately, the project halted when World War II happened.

It wasn't until the early 2000s that farmers began trying again, and succeeded in cultivating the heat and humidity-loving trees in Pingtung.

What makes it so unique? In Pingtung, Taiwan, you will find what might be the shortest production and processing distance in the world. During our recent visit to cacao farms in Pingtung, we saw cacao trees stretching across the landscape, cacao beans fermenting in wooden barrels layered with banana leaves, and cacao beans sun-drying on raised tables. The sorting, roasting, and grinding all took place in a workshop right next door. This industry is built on principles of sustainability and maintaining an eco-friendly working environment for cacao farmers.

Taiwan's chocolate makers embrace a unique "tree-to-bar" approach, working closely with cacao farmers or even cultivating their own cacao trees!