Esmeraldas cacao strain

Esmeraldas is a cacao strain from Ecuador's Esmeraldas province on the Pacific coast, a region known for producing fine flavor cacao. It offers makers access to Ecuador's distinctive agricultural and environmental contributions to cacao genetics. This cacao strain takes its name from the northern Ecuadorean province to which it is native. The path which brought it there is yet unclear, but experts agree that Esmeraldas contains some amount of criollo ancestry, maybe even the same criollo types found in ancient Mesoamerica. But whatever its origin, the pods are mostly small and maroon-colored, with relatively few fruits per tree. The characteristic flavor profile of Esmeraldas cacao is incredibly mild, with traces of spices and melon, though chocolate made from pure Esmeraldas is uncommon.