
Overview
The Origin Masterclass in Brazil, hosted in Bahia in partnership with Vale Potumuju, offers an unparalleled journey into the world of Brazilian cacao, with a focus on flavor development, quality, and tree-to-bar expertise. Brazil’s resurgence in cacao excellence sets the stage as participants gain in-depth insights into the country’s history, and the genetics and cultivation practices that shape this exceptional cacao. Led by experts deeply versed in Brazil, this masterclass provides both classroom learning and immersive field experiences, delivering a professional yet vibrant exploration of the dynamic story of cacao in the State of Bahia.
What to expect:
The course is broken down into the following five areas:
- Overview of cacao’s botany, history and world production
- Principles of forest conservation, cocoa plant management and processing
- Foundations of cocoa transport routes, trading logistics and certifications
- Cocoa markets & contracts along with marketing and sales
- Introduction to cocoa bean quality evaluation
- Tree to Bar Chocolate Making
Hosted and taught by:
- Kate Cavallin (Founder of Cocoa Masterclass and Head of Cacao Latitudes)
- Sarah Bharath (cacao agronomy, field-based solutions, regenerative agriculture, and post-harvest processing)
- Valentina Bosia (sensory analysis and bean-to-bar chocolate making)
- Paula Navarrete (culinary professional with expertise in bean-to-bar chocolate production, sensory and quality evaluation, and flavor development)
- Juliana Aquino (Bahia native and founder of Baianí Chocolates),
- Tuta Aquino (Co-founder of Baianí Chocolates).