100% VRAE Ceremonial Cacao

Ceremonial Cacao

Made In-House | Organic | Direct-Trade | 100% VRAE Cacao | 9 x 35g Circles/Rounds

Feels: Intentionally crafted for celebration and for those who love exceptional cacao. 

Flavour: Floral, unique fruit and herb notes, low bitterness. 

Use: To prepare, use 1 cacao round per serving. Heat 250 ml of water until just below boiling. Crumble the cacao round into the hot water and whisk or blend until frothy. 

Note: Processed in a facility that uses coconut, tree nuts, peanuts, and mushrooms. Store in a cool place; enjoy at room temperature.

This cacao is sourced from Peru's renowned VRAE region—the Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers—one of the world's great cacao-growing regions. 

The Story

The VRAE (Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers) is home to an extraordinary diversity of native cacao. This cacao butter is produced from a blend of exceptional local varieties including VRAE-15, VRAE-99, Chuncho, Criollo, and Trinitario, grown by smallholder farmers at elevations between 400 and 1,300 metres.

After harvest, the beans are carefully fermented for 6–7 days in neutral hardwood boxes, then slowly sun-dried and shade-finished on the farm. This thoughtful post-harvest process develops a remarkably clean and expressive flavour profile with delicate floral notes alongside hints of soursop, mandarin, custard apple, and subtle mountain herbs.

Our cacao is sourced through direct trade, ensuring farmers and cooperatives receive prices above Fair Trade minimums while supporting long-term investment in sustainable farming and quality improvement.

This cacao butter is produced through the El Quinacho Cooperative, a community of 255 farming families, including 89 women producers, demonstrating that exceptional chocolate begins with exceptional stewardship of both people and place.

At Light Cellar, we believe how something is made matters just as much as what it is made from. Every origin tells its own story. Every cacao has its own personality. This butter captures the remarkable flavour, craftsmanship, and integrity of Peru's VRAE region.