Lake Managua, also known as Lake Xolotlán, is a lake in western Nicaragua. Momotombo Volcano is on the lake’s northwestern shore, while the city of Managua, the Nicaraguan capital, lies along its southern shore. Lake Managua has been described by some authors as the most contaminated lake in Central America; it’s been severely polluted by decades of sewage being dumped into it from the city. Cacao has been grown in the region around the lake for millennia, however, and most of the fine flavor cacao sourced from the region is of the criollo varietal known as Chuno.

Chuno happens to be a mixed hybrid, shown to have genetic heritage of roughly one-quarter criollo, one-half amelonado, and one-quarter mixed amongst the other clusters. It also has a relatively small but strong growing region, found growing semi-wild in northern Nicaragua. Chuno is one of just sixteen cacaos to be certified by the Heirloom Cacao Preservation Initiative, an initiative of the Fine Chocolate & Cacao Institute. The HCP identifies ancient & indigenous cacao varietals which hold significant historic, cultural, botanical, geographical, and flavor value for the global industry, which the very fruity chuno cacao does.