Terroir: ECUADOR
One of the best cocoa in the world
Ecuador has the perfect conditions for cocoa farming which explains its expansion in the 17th century with the help of the Spanish. Its cocoa boom made it the biggest exporter in the world until the early 20th century. But competition with Ghana, epidemics, World War I and the collapse of the exchange rate saw production drop whilst bananas soared. Ecuador may account for around 13% of global production but the origin still has a fantastic reputation due to the standard of its cocoa.
Hacienda Victoria plantation
In the heart of Guayas province, in Cerecita, Hacienda Victoria is our sourcing partner for cacao beans in Ecuador. Founded in 2011 by Carlos Eduardo García Fuentes on the site of a former tropical dry forest, this 500-hectare single-estate, exclusively planted with Nacional Arriba, has become a world reference for this heirloom variety. Its beans go into our Gayas 64% and Gayas 70% dark chocolates from the Les Pures Plantations range.
One mission: to preserve the Nacional Arriba cocoa
Nacional Arriba is the variety that established the reputation of Ecuadorian cacao: a floral and fruity aromatic profile, combining elegance and complexity. It's also a variety challenged by the CCN-51 hybrid, high-yielding, but with a lesser aromatic profile. Hacienda Victoria has made the deliberate choice of a 100% Nacional Arriba plantation. The cacao trees are drawn from a seed bank selected for their heritage aromatic profile, and cultivation is overseen by specialist agronomists, with controlled irrigation.
A production under control, from pod to bean
Each pod is harvested at optimal ripeness to preserve the integrity of the bean. Fermentation, a crucial stage in aromatic development, takes place over three days in wooden boxes on the farm, with real-time digital monitoring. Drying is then carried out naturally in the sun, without any artificial post-harvest treatment. Traceability is ensured lot by lot, via digital scales. From genetic selection to the bag of beans, Hacienda Victoria has built a fully controlled chain in which every step is documented. A rigour that aligns with our own approach to raw material validation.
A cultivation method in the service of people and the planet
Rainforest Alliance-certified, Hacienda Victoria was the world's first cacao plantation to achieve carbon neutrality in 2020, and the first to measure its water footprint. Since 2017, fertiliser use has been cut by 50% and glyphosate use by 60%. The commitment to Zero Deforestation is uncompromising: no expansion onto primary forests, and the planting of thousands of native trees to recreate an ecosystem hospitable to local wildlife.
This environmental rigour is matched by an equally substantive social policy. The 150 direct employees are paid above the Ecuadorian minimum wage and housed in Rainforest Alliance-certified accommodation, with medical consultations every two weeks. Staff turnover, below 1% since the plantation's creation, reflects a workplace culture rare in the sector. A commitment that extends to the Cerecita community, including the construction of a school.