Matasawalevu

Type
Estate
Location
Matasawalevu, Dreketi, Vanua Levu, Fiji
Tasting Notes
Cashew, Caramel, Vanilla
Varieties
Forastero, Amelonado
Fermentation Style
Four-tiered hardwood box
Drying Style
Sun dried on raised beds
Harvest Season
March - May and October - December

Matasawalevu Cocoa is part of a cocoa industry revitalization project on Fiji’s second largest island, Vanua Levu, led by Arif Khan of Cacao Fiji.  Arif started Cacao Fiji in 2014 after tasting a chocolate bar sourced from Fiji beans and talking to farmers on Fiji’s largest island, Viti Levu, about the difficulties they had finding markets for their cocoa.  Arif was inspired to return to his home country and build a link to the craft chocolate movement farming, processing and exporting Fiji cocoa beans.

Cacao in Fiji
Through Cacao Fiji, Arif runs the Matasawalevu Cocoa Project at the Matasawalevu Cocoa Farm located on 100 acres in the hills of Dreketi, Macuata in Northern Fiji.  The Matasawalevu Cocoa Farm closely follows traditional post-harvest processing techniques and has a reputation for producing high quality cocoa. In 2015, Cacao Fiji’s Matasawalevu Cocoa was selected to be included in the 50 best samples leading up to the final International Cocoa Awards.