KRAK - Vietnam 70%
In the Central Highlands of Vietnam, in Dak Lak province, cacao cultivation is a relatively modern enterprise that only became professional in the 21st century, despite cacao being introduced to the country in the late 1800s. Today, more than 12,000 farmers grow cacao on small plots, often alongside coconut and various fruit trees.
In 2017, two school friends, Truong Minh Thang and Nguyen Duy Thong, founded Anh Em Cacao Co. out of a shared passion for cacao and chocolate. They discovered that the cacao quality in Dak Lak could be improved and focused on research into microbial biodiversity and post-harvest processes to optimize the flavor potential of the beans. The result became the foundation for the award-winning chocolate they began producing under their Tbros brand. Anh Em now exports these high-quality beans to Europe and the rest of the world, benefiting local producers and their communities.
Award: Gold Medal, Academy of Chocolate 2022