Carenero cacao strain

Carenero is a Criollo strain from Venezuela's Carenero region, historically important to the country's fine flavor cacao heritage. It is a delicate variety favored by makers interested in tracing cacao back to specific Venezuelan microclimates and traditional growing practices. The strain is said to be a hybrid of Venezuela’s native criollo and a fruity trinitario, with red-brown pods and honeyed sweetness. This historical cacao has also been called “Caracas cacao,” due to its connection with the city of Barlovento, where the hybrid is said to have originated. Tart fruits and spices characterize the flavors found in chocolates made with true Carenero, also often called Carenero Superior.