Our Commitment to Responsible Cacao Sourcing
At Cacao Co., we take full responsibility for ensuring that the cacao we share comes from suppliers and cooperatives that meet global safety standards and hold relevant, up-to-date certifications. Our commitment is to provide you with 100% pure cacao that is both safe and of the highest quality.
We want to open a transparent conversation around sourcing, accountability, and the journey our cacao takes before it reaches your cup.
Recently there has been conversation surrounding heavy metals and cacao, which is nuanced and influenced by many factors. As with much health-food discourse, it is important to remain objective – not taking claims at face value, but ensuring they are supported by research and considered within a comprehensive, science-backed view.
Where Does Our Cacao Come From?
Our cacao begins in Peru, ethically sourced from smallholder farms and trusted cooperatives rooted in fairness and care. We work directly with partners committed to fair wages, organic certification, reforestation, and community development - ensuring every harvest supports both land and livelihood.
Our ceremonial Criollo cacao is harvested in Satipo, a region in central Peru within the province of Junín. The producers of our organic Criollo cacao are the Asháninka people of the Ene River. Traditional processing practices are upheld, working symbiotically with the land and Indigenous communities.
The cacao we share is supported by an agronomist and biologist among its co-founders, ensuring sustainable, safe, and ecologically responsible cultivation. It has undergone extensive third-party testing and holds international certifications for safety, quality, and organic standards.
The Peruvian Amazon Soil and Volcanic Soil
The Peruvian Amazon is rich in natural resources, and its soil is among the most mineral-rich on Earth. This richness is due in part to the Amazonian Dark Earth – or Terra Preta – created by ancient indigenous communities, as well as volcanic activity in the Andes, which nourishes the land through vast river systems.
There is a reason ceremonial cacao flourishes in the Amazon Basin and Andes Mountains, just as ceremonial-grade matcha thrives in Japan’s fertile volcanic regions. Terra Preta and volcanic soils provide an abundance of nutrients that support thriving plant life.
Key Nutrients in Volcanic and Terra Preta Soil
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Iron
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Magnesium
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Calcium
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Potassium
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Phosphorus
Naturally Occurring Trace Elements in Volcanic Soil
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Cadmium
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Lead
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Arsenic
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Mercury
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Nickel
These trace elements occur naturally within the Earth’s crust and are present in varying amounts depending on geographic region. It is usually down to anthropogenic factors that these heavy metals are in excess, factors such as chemical fertilizers and pesticides, mining and industrial waste.
Responsible Sourcing Practices
To reduce contamination risk and uphold quality standards, responsible cacao sourcing includes:
Indigenous and Agroforestry Farming Methods
Traditional agroforestry systems integrate trees, crops, and biodiversity in a sustainable and regenerative way. These methods promote soil health, ecological balance, and long-term sustainability.
Single-Origin Cacao
Sourcing from specific regions where soil quality is monitored and regularly tested.
Minimal Processing Methods
Traditional hand-harvesting, fermentation, sun-drying, and minimal roasting reduce the risk of contamination during processing while preserving the integrity of the cacao.
Organic Practices
Maintaining certified organic standards by avoiding pesticides and synthetic chemicals throughout the plant’s life cycle and surrounding growing areas.
Safety Thresholds: Our Responsibility
It is our due diligence to ensure the cooperatives we work with hold the relevant certifications and operate within established safety standards. We carefully examine the factors that may contribute to potential contamination and ensure comprehensive third-party testing of the cacao we share with you.
Our supply chain also upholds essential food safety and quality system certifications to ensure transparency, accountability, and consistency.
A Grounded Perspective
Heavy metals are present in many plant foods because minerals naturally exist in soil, rocks, and water. Levels vary by region due to geological differences.
Some minerals commonly discussed in this context are, in fact, essential nutrients for human health, including:
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Iron — necessary for energy production and red blood cell formation
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Zinc — crucial for immune function and hormonal balance
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Copper — supports enzyme function and immune health
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Magnesium — essential for nervous system regulation
The key consideration is not the mere presence of these elements, but their concentration. Health concerns arise when exposure is excessive or prolonged.
Regular heavy-metal testing is therefore a standard and essential component of responsible cacao sourcing.
It is also important to note that many leafy greens, root vegetables, grains, and legumes contain trace amounts of heavy metals due to natural soil composition. As with cacao, the body’s elimination systems help regulate and remove what is not needed.
Context Within Broader Research
One widely circulated article sparked concern around heavy metals in cacao, particularly lead and cadmium - two metals naturally found within the earth's crust. The article itself was not peer-reviewed and therefore wouldn’t typically carry significant weight in formal scientific or academic contexts. As often occurs within health-food discourse, media amplification expanded the discussion and caused some uncertainty around cacao and chocolate consumption.
A 2018 study examining sources of cadmium exposure in the United States identified the following primary contributors:
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Cereals and bread — 34%
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Leafy vegetables — 20%
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Potatoes — 11%
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Legumes and nuts — 7%
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Stem and root vegetables — 6%
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Fruit — 5%
Cacao and chocolate were not identified as primary contributors in this study, despite the United States being a major global consumer of chocolate. Cereals and bread represented the highest dietary contribution to cadmium exposure.
A Holistic View
When choosing cacao, we encourage those who drink this sacred plant to explore the journey it takes from bean to cup. Ask questions about where your cacao has come from, who has prepared it, and how it has come to be in your cup today.
Cacao Co. is a Brighton-based collective built on community, conscious living, and the transformative power of ceremonial cacao. We are proud to share certified organic, ceremonial-grade criollo cacao and remain committed to transparency, upholding our responsibility to you - our community - and to the communities who cultivate cacao.
Our mission is to cultivate a community of cacao lovers, promoting kinship, grounding, and rekindling our connection to the earth.
