Ghana Kuapa Kokoo Fairtrade

Region and Country

Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Western, and Volta Regions, Ghana

Story

The organization holds around 100,000 registered members, of which 32% are women. Members of Kuapa Kokoo are predominantly small-holder farmers, highly reliant on cocoa income and living in remote and deprived parts of the country. In particular, most of the cocoa-growing villages do not have access to healthcare, clean drinking water, or electricity.

Kuapa Kokoo became Fairtrade certified in 1995. For the sales of certified beans, Kuapa receives a Fairtrade Premium to invest in cash payments to individual farmers, farmer training, community infrastructure and projects and organisational strengthening.

Harvest

September - March (main harvest) May-August (mid-crop)

Genetics

Ghanaian cocoa is predominantly a West African Amelonado of Brazilian origin.

Post Harvesting Process

Cocoa beans are fermented in heaps on banana leaves on the ground at the plantation site. Fermentation takes place during 5 - 8 days. Afterwards, the beans are dried on raised reed  mats. The beans are turned regularly by hand.

Flavour

This cocoa has a rich chocolate base frequently accompanied by notes of coffee and nuts (coconut) and bitter wood.