Alta Verapaz is a department in central Guatemala, with its capital in Cobán. All of Guatemala was at one point a part of the Maya civilization, including the Alta Verapaz region, and most of the area's residents are still part of one of the surviving groups and primarily speak their native language rather than Spanish. The majority of the fine flavor cacao exported from Guatemala comes from the tropical jungles of the Alta Verapaz region via Cacao Verapaz, a specialty cacao exporter based in Cobán, and focused on working with indigenous communities to preserve their native cacao varietals.

Deep in the foothills of northern Guatemala lies the village of Rocjá Pomtilá, a settlement of Maya Q’eqchi’ people who cultivate cacao, cardamom, and corn. Rocjá Pomtilá is located near the ancient Laguna Lachuá, a large pristine lake deemed a national park over four decades ago. The community’s cacao has only recently become commercially available, thanks to the efforts of a truly extraordinary organization, Cacao Verapaz. The name of the cacao association that purchases wet cacao from producers in Rocjá Pomtilá is ASODIRP, which processes those beans into export-ready cacao. But over the years Cacao Verapaz has become ASODIRP's primary market for cacao, as they pay a premium for quality and take care of all the import into the US & Europe.