The cacao from Sur Del Lago is a variety originated from hybrids of Criollo ( Criollo Porcelana, Criollo Mérida and Guasare), crossed with Trinitario and Forastero, constituting a “natural blend”.

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This variety was named after the cacao plantation area of Sur del Lago de Maracaíbo. Formerly designated Maracaíbo, when it cacao was more pure. Now is a mixture of wide variety of genetic material.

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It all starts in the cacao plantation where we have located a group of producers from different areas of Sur del Lago willing to work hand in hand. 

 

The fermentation process is done by removing the cacao seeds from their pods and placing them in large wooden boxes for 4-6 days. 

 

Drying is achieved by the sun on drying decks. 

 

Sur del Lago variety comes from the mythical cacao Guasare, the first cacao that existed on earth.

 

Sur del Lago literally means 'south of the lake' in Spanish. It is a region which extension covers 4 states: Zulia, Merida, Táchira and Trujillo and farmers are grouped in several geographical axes of importance.