Junin is a central Peruvian department where cacao grows in low jungle valleys with varying altitudes and volcanic soils that contribute to complex flavor development. The region's fruit-forward profile, with notes of berries and cherry, reflects both the terroir and traditional post-harvest techniques used by smallholder farmers. Junin is part of Peru's Selva Central, where 80 percent of the country's cacao production is concentrated.

CAC Pangoa is a cacao co-op in the Junín region of Peru, with more than 700 contributing members. Pangoa originally focused on coffee beans, but in the decades since their founding in 1977, they’ve also become dedicated to preserving their land through the cultivation of cacao. With the help of the organization Conservation Cacao, CAC Pangoa is planting more & more fine flavor varietals of cacao to sustainably and safely replace their ageing coffee. These days, the cooperative only produces organic-certified Fair Trade cacao, and they’re starting to turn to it more & more as their coffee trees feel the devastating effects of climate change.