As you may know, at Silva, we take pride in our unique focus on the forest, the farmers, flavours, and the future, all while having fun. Given our affinity and practical and solid knowledge of the terrain it was time to share our insights on the hot topic of ‘agroforestry’.
As we embark on the journey of a new year, we are eager to reveal our ambitious plans for the upcoming months. But first and foremost we would like to express our deep appreciation for the wonderful collaboration that we have built up with you over the years in the world of chocolate.
Silva's 2023 New Year's Resolution : Planting trees in Guatemalan Eco region 'Lachuá', together with our partners of Finca Ana Maria & Finca Paso Cocodrilo.
As Silva team we are sending our warmest Christmas wishes your way. We hope your home will be filled with happiness. Because we want to thank you for the great partnership, lovely encounters, and delicious chocolate, we get one step ahead of Santa Claus and give you a little something already: a tree in the Dominican Republic!
You might have seen pictures like the one above. Cut tests are quite photogenic. However, good looks are not the prime reason this test is performed. It is an important tool to identify problems in an early stage, assess the level of fermentation and evaluate beans. One of the most interesting difference between cacao purchaser for bulk industry and specialty cacao purchasers is that they use cut tests in completely different ways.
Unlike its neighbors Ivory Coast and Ghana, Togo is not known for its cacao. Nor is it recognized as a producer of first class, fine flavor, specialty cacao. However, this situation is changing. Along with coffee, cacao is Togo's third export product and an important source of income for the country. But it takes the energy and inspiration of individuals like Abra Benczedi to bring it all together and create a community. Read here her extraordinary life story.
All chocolate makers recognize the excitement of seeing (and hearing) a constant flow of cacao nibs falling out of the winnower, ready for the grinder. And then their eye falls on the husks... Read on to discover a way to give them a new life!
You may have seen striking images of bisected cacao beans. These vivid purple slices aren’t just for show – they’re part of an evaluation method called a cut test. But is this test actually meaningful?