Tuerê cocoa producers have a lot to be proud of. In three years, they’ve collected 18 national and international awards for their cocoa beans and the premium chocolate bars made with them. That’s eight gold, six silver and four bronze medals. Not to mention the six samples that were finalists in competitions, three appearances at the Paris Chocolate Salon (the biggest world event in the sector), and two tributes.
Solidaridad has been working alongside producer families from the rural settlement of Tuerê in the state of Pará, Brazil, for almost seven years. The goal has always been to promote low-carbon agriculture and increase the families’ incomes. However, the farmers’ commitment to quality has exceeded expectations. Being among the 50 best beans in the world, Terroir Tuerê is making history in the fine cocoa and bean-to-bar chocolate sector.
Meet award-winning cocoa farmer João Evangelista
Beans grown in the terroir won their latest awards in June and July 2022. The “Amazônia Tuerê 70%” bar, produced by the French company La Brigaderie de Paris, won the silver medal at the International Chocolate Awards 2021-22. Also, at the UK’s Academy of Chocolate Awards, Tuerê won three medals: gold for the “Malted Milk Chocolate” bar from Odle Chocolate Maker, bronze for the “Amazônia 85%” chocolate from Mission Chocolate, and another bronze for “Terruá Tuerê 72%” by Nicolas Chocolat do Belga. This last bar also won the silver medal at the Chocolate Awards 2022 competition in Belgium, a country known for its advanced techniques for producing and improving chocolate.
Since 2018, nine names have represented the hundreds of Tuerê families in events and competitions:
- Chiquinho
- Francisco Cruz
- João Evangelista
- João Rios
- José Antônio de Oliveira
- Rosilene
- Valdomiro Broechl
- Willian Broechl and
- Zezinho
(See full list of prizes and acknowledgments below).
Currently, fine cocoa from Tuerê is marketed by the Cooperativa dos Produtores de Cacau e Desenvolvimento Agrícola da Amazônia. It has several artisanal chocolatiers on its client list. These include the pioneering Casa Lasevicius, which has accompanied Solidaridad since the first harvests, Mission Chocolate, Priscyla França Chocolates, Monjolo Chocolate Bar, Odle Chocolate Maker, Java Chocolates, Kulih Cacao, and Argonay Chocolate Consciente.
Bean-to-bar chocolates are made from the whole cocoa bean, without process segmentation or artificial additives. To produce this very special cocoa, for which the price can exceed four times the ‘bulk’ price of cocoa marketed as a commodity, the producer families can turn to Solidaridad for technical advice. This helps them meet market requirements on key issues such as drying and fermentation. In addition to getting assistance in applying good agricultural, environmental, and economic practices, producers also receive guidance on how to improve their sales channels and access new business opportunities.
A short history
In 2017, during Brazil’s International Chocolat Amazônia Festival in Belém, the Tuerê cocoa’s superior quality caught the attention of Bruno Lasevicius, partner and founder of the Casa Lasevicius artisanal chocolate shop. He suggested evaluating the quality of a sample lot produced with the support of Solidaridad. Planted in Agroforestry Systems (SAF) specifically developed for optimum growth, the cocoa from Tuerê is surrounded by bananas, medium and large Amazon native trees for shade, and annual crops such as cassava.
According to Paulo Lima, manager of Solidaridad’s Cocoa and Livestock Programme in Brazil, the producers were keen to take on the challenge of producing high quality cocoa. Solidaridad field officers then began to focus their efforts on improving their basic processing technology – fermentation and drying, which, when well done, allows the natural flavor attributes of cocoa to be preserved.
Initial results
This experience resulted in the first artisanal chocolate produced with cocoa from Tuerê in 2018. The following year, encouraged by Bruno Lasevicius, the producers entered their samples in the Chocolat Amazônia 2019 contest, winning five prizes. This attracted the attention of chocolatiers from all over the world. “It was then that we discovered that Tuerê was a new and promising terroir for fine cocoa in Brazil”, said Lima.
The bean-to-bar market became an incentive for sustainable family farming.
Paulo Lima, manager of Solidaridad’s Cocoa and Livestock Programme in Brazil
He believes that the awards have empowered farmers, who feel recognition and appreciation for their work. With the arrival of the medals and trophies, producer families’ commitment has increased and, consequently, so has their adoption of good practices on their farms. “In this way, the bean-to-bar market became an incentive for sustainable family farming,” Lima added.
TERROIR TUERÊ AWARDS
18 awards (8 gold, 6 silver and 4 bronze)
4 national contests
6 international competitions
16 recognitions for chocolates
9 awards for almonds
6 contest finalists
2 tributes
3 participations in the Salon du Chocolate de Paris
IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER
2022
Chocolate Academy Awards (UK):
1. Gold medal in the Milk Bean To Bar category
Chocolate “Malted Milk Chocolate” by Odle Chocolate Maker made with cocoa from producer João Evangelista
2. Bronze medal in the Dark Bean To Bar category (Less than 90%)
Chocolate “Terruá Tuerê 72%” by Nicolas Chocolat do Belga produced with cocoa from producer João Evangelista
3. Bronze medal in the Dark Bean To Bar category (Less than 90%)
Chocolate “Amazônia 85%” from Mission Chocolate produced with cocoa from producer Valdemiro Broechl
Belgium Chocolate Awards (Belgium): silver medal
Chocolate “Terruá Tuerê 72%” by Nicolas Chocolat do Belga produced with cocoa from producer João Evangelista
International Chocolate Awards (Global): silver medal
“Amazônia Tuerê 70%” chocolate from La Brigaderie de Paris produced with cocoa from producer João Evangelista
2021
Chocolate Alliance Awards, from the Northwest Chocolate Festival (USA): gold medal in the Made at origin category
Chocolate “Intense 70% cocoa” from Monjolo Chocolate Bar made with cocoa from the producer Francisco Cruz
CNA Brazil Craft Award (National): gold medal
Chocolate “70% cocoa” by Priscyla França Bonbons made with cocoa from the producer Francisco Cruz
Academy of Chocolate Awards (United Kingdom): gold medal
Mission Chocolate “Two Rivers” Chocolate made with cocoa from producer Valdemiro Broechl
Cocoa of Excellence (Global):
1. Cocoa from producer João Evangelista among the 50 best almonds in the world
2. Silver medal in South America for João Evangelista’s cocoa
3. Cocoa from producers João Evangelista, João Rios and Valdemiro Broechl among the eight best in Brazil
III Special National Cocoa Quality Contest in Brazil – Sustainability and Quality (National):
1. Silver medal for cocoa producer João Rios in the Blend category
2. Finalists: producers João Rios, José Antônio de Oliveira, Valdemiro Broechl and William Broechl
3. Honored for their achievements: producers Francisco Cruz and João Evangelista
2020
Bean to Bar Brazil Award (National):
1. Gold medal in the Intense Chocolates category
Mission Chocolate “70% Amazônia” Chocolate produced with cocoa from producer Valdemiro Broechl
2. Gold medal in the Audience Choice category
Mission Chocolate “70% Amazônia” Chocolate produced with cocoa from producer Valdemiro Broechl
Chocolate Alliance Awards, from the Northwest Chocolate Festival (USA): bronze medal
Chocolate “Includes 68% dark cupuaçu” from Casa Lasevicius produced with cocoa from producer Valdemiro Broechl
2019
Contest of Chocolates of Origin from the Amazon, of the Amazonas Chocolat Festival (National):
1. Gold medal in the Intense Chocolate category
Chocolate “70% Cocoa” by Casa Lasevicius produced with cocoa from the producer Chiquinho
2. Gold medal in the Milk Chocolate category
Chocolate “50% Cocoa” from Casa Lasevicius made with cocoa from the producer Valdemiro Broechl
3. Silver medal in the Intense Chocolate category
Chocolate “70% Cocoa” by Casa Lasevicius made with cocoa from the producer Valdemiro Broechl
4. Silver medal in the Milk Chocolate category
Chocolate “50% Cocoa” by Casa Lasevicius made with cocoa from the producer Rosilene
5. Bronze medal in the Intense Chocolate category
Chocolate “70% Cocoa” by Casa Lasevicius made with cocoa from the producer Rosilene