Auro and Mang Jose Wins Award for Cacao Excellence
The Philippines made history as Auro Chocolate took home the Top 20 Best Cacao Beans in the World for the prestigious Cacao of Excellence Award at the Salon Du Chocolate in Paris, France.
The ceremony happened in Paris, France by the largest chocolate show in the world. Just this August, Mang Jose or Jose Saguban has been selected to compete with other 49 farmers for the said award.
Hailing from Kialaw, Malabog in Paquibato District, Davao City, Mang Jose has been growing Paquibato beans for almost 18 years now.
The winning cacao’s journey
According to Auro’s cacao manager, Louie Cena, the brand has been working with Mang Jose and other members from the Paquibato Tree Developers Cooperative (PTDC) from the very beginning.
Their mentorships include fermentation protocols and preparations on data samples for submission to enter the competition which Auro has sponsored. Once selected, the cacao beans will then be crafted into chocolate for judging.
The chocolate brand shared the news on their social media post, “We won!!! Not only did Mang Jose make it to the Top 50, [but] he also won the main award for TOP 20 best cacao beans in the world!!!”
Congratulations to Mang Jose’s dedication and hard work!
This is indeed a huge win for the Philippine cacao industry.
