Cocoa Tree Sponsorship

• Scientific name: Theobroma cacao

• Common name: Cocoa tree

• Family: Malvaceae

• Biogeographic status: modern introduction

Originally from Mexico and cultivated for centuries by the Mayans, the cocoa tree has established itself over time in tropical regions, both on the American continent and in Africa, Asia and Oceania.

It was introduced to Tahiti in 1848 by the British doctor Johnston but was not exploited. These sometimes century-old trees have thus developed unique characteristics. As Philippe Bastide, an international cocoa expert who came on mission to Polynesia in 2022, explains, “the morphological types of pods are quite original and are quite rare. The beans have an original taste characteristic compared to the overall population of cocoa trees in the world.”