06/30/2026
Hello from Turrialba, Costa Rica, where our brand director, William, recently visited the cacao collection at CATIE in an effort to photograph and document the variety of expression showcased across Theombroma cacao genetics. In the following sides, take a peak at the wide range of colors, shapes, and expressions on the cacao fruits. It’s truly awe-inspiring and wonderful in the truest sense of the word.
This collection in Turrialba, called La Moñtana, is home to 932 ascensions. CATIE manages another collection in Batán, in the Carriabean, with more ascensions, for a total of over 1,300 ascensions (meaning different cultivars of cacao). Some of these include the parents of Theobroma cacao, wild cultivars, and intentional crosses. This collection was started in 1978, but CATIE itself goes all the way back to the 1930s Roosevelt administration: the cornerstone of CATIE’s main building was laid by Vice President Henry A. Wallace in 1943. The institute was created as a way to bridge agricultural knowledge and foster collaboration between nations, sharing higher education and research programs that benefit all.
CATIE’s cacao collection allows them to research productivity, disease resistance, climate hardiness, genetic expression, and flavor in cacao cultivars. There are ascensions from 25 countries, representing genetic and phenotypic diversity across the world. More to come on this! In the meantime, enjoy the photos and videos from our trip.
