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.