Pichari Alta, Cusco, Peru 70%

We are thrilled to be introducing our second new single origin of 2024 - Pichari Alta, Cusco, Peru 70%.

Between the meandering rivers and forested valleys of Pichari Alta in Cusco, Peru, is the Finca Nueva Esperanza farm. These third-generation cacao farmers produce a harvest so unique, it rarely leaves the area. We are privileged to have crafted a limited portion into an intoxicatingly floral and dangerously moreish chocolate.

We feel incredibly humbled that the Laura Family has given our little chocolate factory permission to transform their beautiful cacao. Get ready to have your senses flooded with notes of sweet mandarin and rose-laden Turkish delight. It is delightful indeed.

While Pichari Alta, Peru dances with an unbridled celebration of juicy candy, fruit and flowers, it’s simply the character of this much sought-after VRAE-99 cacao singing. Plus organic cane sugar and our obsession for respecting provenance and generations of painstaking genetic preservation.

And because your senses are unique, you may discover characters and aromas others may not – that’s the magic of Foundry Chocolate.

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This intoxicatingly moreish new chocolate is the result of a multi-year project by David to source a new Peruvian single origin, culminating in a trip to Salon du Chocolat in Peru last year where he met with some inspiring cacao farming families.

While sharing our chocolate with Rosaura Laura and her father Juan, David tasted chocolate they had made from their own cacao. He was blown away with the tasting notes in their cacao, their unique genetic varieties, and how cutting edge their fermentation and drying techniques were.

Back in New Zealand we made samples from three of their different genetic varieties - JL-2, VRAE-15 and VRAE-99 - and fell in love with the delightful tasting notes of VRAE-99.

The Laura family allowed us a portion of their harvest, which arrived earlier this year. David started test roasting straight away, and as he discovered just how joyful and delicious this cacao is, he reached new heights of geekery with his roast testing and subsequent optimum roast profile development.

We are beyond excited to say this bar is now ready for you.

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From the 2023 vintage. 

70g

Ingredients: Cacao Beans & Organic Cane Sugar. No added cacao butter, lecithin or vanilla.

Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Soy Free, Vegan and 100% Plant Based.

Origin Information:
The Finca Nueva Esperanza farm is based in Pichari Alta, La Convención, Cusco, Peru. Here, third generation cacao farmers Juan and Carmen Laura and their daughter Rosaura, grow unique genetic varieties of cacao on their 2-hectare farm. Juan and his family have cultivated cacao for more than 50 years in this community.

Their cacao is the result of mixing science with tradition – what they are doing with their fermentation and drying techniques is cutting edge. The flavours in their cacao beans reflects the biodiversity of their small ecological farm and the skills they impart on it.

VRAE-99 is a unique genetic variety, one of several varieties – including JL-2 and VRAE-15 - the Laura’s have on their farm and grow in different parts of it. Often different varieties on the same farm are blended together, however the Laura’s keep each variety separate to highlight the exceptional tasting notes from them.

The English translation of VRAE is “Valley of Rivers” - from the Valley of the Apurímac, Ene and Mantaro rivers - and this fertile region is historically known for its cocaine production. Biodiverse farms like Finca Nueva Esperanza and the families behind them are going a long way to making a difference in the region and proving that world leading work is possible in these fertile regions.

We are proud to be sourcing directly from Finca Nueva Esperanza and humbled the Laura’s let us purchase cacao from them.