Acul-du-Nord is an arrondissement in the Nord Department of Haiti, a Caribbean nation which shares an island with the Dominican Republic. In terms of economic and financial infrastructure, the region is rather thinly equipped; most residents depend upon agriculture as their main source of livelihood. Common crops in Acul-du-Nord are coffee, rice, and a variety of tropical fruits, though it’s also become common to practice beekeeping & honey harvesting. The central cacao fermentary run by Produits Des Iles SA (PISA) has been a game-changer for the quality of cacao coming out of this region.

Produits Des Iles SA (PISA) is one of the few groups in Haiti working to export single-origin Haitian cacao, a battle they’ve been taking on since their inception in 2012. Prior to PISA’s establishment, basically all Haitian cacao was sold in the commodity market at dirt-cheap prices, despite the fact that neighboring Dominican Republic’s industry was booming. So the group decided to take on the task themselves, buying wet cacao from local farmers and processing it centrally in a northern facility. PISA’s beans are described by importer Uncommon Cacao as the “perfect storm of chocolate, caramelized sugars, and juicy dark berries,” and we couldn’t agree more. While makers’ choices play a large role in the final flavor, these notes are steadfast and hard to ignore. All PISA cacao is certified organic.