Skip to content

Wallace Itenez Wild Harvest Bolivia 73%

Cocoa Origin: Bolivia
Producer Country: Canada
Weight: 60 g

These beans are VERY rare and grow wild in the Itenez forests, a remote part of Bolivia that is largely nature reserve and jungle. They are harvested by local campesinos. According to genetic tests, the cacao is 97.3% Heirloom Beniano Boliviano with 2.7% Upper Amazon Forastero. The initiative to start collecting native, wild cacaos was head up by Volker Lehmann, who is now a bit of a celebrity for having pioneered the wild cacao trade in the early 2000s. These beans are very small but said to be big with flavour - something that is immediately obvious to taste. Flavours of blueberry combine with a very deep, dark, and robust chocolate. It also has a slight "forest floor" earthiness; in wine terms, it's like flavours of Burgundy meeting the big structure of a Bordeaux.
Regular price $13.31

Wallace Itenez Wild Harvest Bolivia 73%

Mark Wallace spent years working overseas with cocoa farmers in the West African jungle – a rare experience that sets him apart in the world of chocolate making. Upon returning to Victoria, Canada, he transitioned his deep knowledge of cacao into crafting fine specialty chocolate, all while maintaining his passion for supporting farmers and their communities. All of Mark's cocoa is directly sourced and transparently traded, with most also being organic, heirloom, and chemical input-free. He conducts thorough background research and due diligence on the labour and environmental practices of each supplier. Additionally, his packaging is compostable and recyclable. Another thing I love about Mark's approach is his dedication to showcasing the best of select cocoa-growing areas, highlighting quality over quantity by focusing on one special, intentional bar that's expressive of each region. He takes pride in expressing the flavours of the cocoa origins and shares detailed, often personal, accounts of the farms and growers.

Shop More Wallace

Beni, a northeastern department of Bolivia, is characterized by its vast, flat terrain and sparse population, ranking as the country's second-largest but also second-least populated department. The region's landscape features large mounds connected by straight earthen causeways, believed to be remnants of ancient, advanced indigenous civilizations that thrived prior to European arrival. A tropical and humid climate fosters warm to hot temperatures year-round. Beni shares its borders with Brazil to the northeast and is predominantly covered by rainforest, pampa, and numerous rivers, all part of the Amazon basin. It is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including 400 unique species of fish. Wild cacao trees grow along the upper reaches of the Beni River where locals traverse the waterways in boats to
harvest fresh pods. In addition to agriculture, timber, and cattle ranching, Beni’s local economy is often linked to illegal narcotics activities, making wild harvesting in the region perilous.

Shop More
Drawer Title
Similar Bars