We are a not-for-profit organization in collaboration with United States Department of Agriculture. Together, chocolate industry professionals, chocolate makers, farmers, and chocolate enthusiasts from around the world are determined to save the quickly diminishing Theobroma cacao  trees that produce the most high quality, flavorful chocolate and identify the farmers who grow them. To that end, we have designated trees on a number of farms around the globe as Heirloom Cacao. ​

Our Mission

To discover, identify and preserve fine flavor Heirloom cacao varieties for the conservation of biological diversity and the empowerment of farming communities. 

Our Reach

17 Designees

Number of sites around the world HCP has designated as Heirloom.  Meet our designees!

3,080 Farmers

The number of small farmers directly benefiting from Heirloom designation.

11 Countries

Heirloom designees are located in 10 countries around the world, on 4 continents. 

Meet our Designees

How does it work?

The HCP is a totally new way to evaluate, identify, and value cacao that has extraordinary or unique flavor. It is the first initiative to connect flavor and genetics with an end goal of rewarding growers by helping them achieve the same or even greater income than they would by selling ordinary or bulk cacao. In that way, we hope to ensure the sustainable production of cacao for fine chocolate. We achieve our mission through the following steps:

• Identify the finest flavor cacaos
• Link their flavor to genetics for natural reproduction
• Recognize and reward the farmers who cultivate fine flavor cacao trees
• Preserve and propagate the finest cacao for current and future generations of both farmers and chocoholics

Learn more

"Heirloom chocolate Saves the World. 
It's tastes great. It makes you feel great. It's good for the planet, and it improves the lives of cacao farmers and their farming communities. If you want to do good in the world, eat better chocolate."
- Richard Tango-Lowy
HCP President
​CEO & Founder of Dancing Lion Chocolate

Apply for HCP Designation

If you are a cacao producer with extraordinary beans, apply to the HCP today! Submissions are free!

Donate

The HCP is a Non-for-profit 501(c)3 organization.  All donations directly support the preservation of Heirloom cacao, because we want you to taste more exquisite chocolate!

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