After the Portuguese introduced cacao to Principe, this small West African island became the gateway of cacao to the mainland. From Principe, cacao trees were introduced to its sister island of São Tomé and later brought to Ghana. The bittersweet history of cacao on both islands was reflected in the neglect of plantations and crops for many decades. Nowadays, it has regained strength and has become an important source of income for many smallholder farmers who are proud of their contribution to the country's production.