Beniano cacao strain

The native wild-grown cacao of Bolivia, Beniano is perhaps better known as nacional de Bolivia or even cacao silvestre. That’s because this strain grows wild along the upper part of the Río Bení in northern Bolivia; locals collect pods via canoe, as they ripen. The further south you go, the more indigenous genetic material the fruits tend to contain. Beniano have relatively small pods, meaning less yield per fruit, and a sweet, nutty, and fruity flavor. The overall rich and balanced character of the beans means that even slight changes in fermentation or roasting can cause a huge difference in the final taste of a product, resulting in an overall crowd-pleasing cacao.