Puerto Rico Cacao Farmers Win Global Chocolate Awards

Puerto Rico's Cacao Farmers Earning Global Recognition

A quiet agricultural revolution is unfolding in the hills of Puerto Rico's interior municipalities, where a growing community of cacao farmers and artisanal chocolatiers is winning international awards and positioning the island as a serious player in the global specialty chocolate market. Since 2016, cacao production in Puerto Rico has increased by more than 3,400%, according to data from Chocolate Cortés, one of the island's largest chocolate producers and a key buyer of locally grown cacao beans.

The Story of Hacienda Terruño JS

Tucked in the rolling hills of Naranjito, Jorge Morales operates Hacienda Terruño JS, a 9-acre cacao farm he established after retiring from his career as a USDA Forest Service librarian. At 63, Morales has become not only a farmer but an internationally recognised cacao producer. In 2023, his cacao was rated among the top 50 in the world, earning a silver medal at the Cacao of Excellence Global Awards — an honour he repeated with another silver award at the 2026 ceremony in Amsterdam. Compatriot David Valentín-Bayón of Cacao Valent from San Sebastián took gold at the same competition. Morales produces 60% to 100% dark chocolate under the brand name Tanibe, sold directly at his farm alongside guided tours where visitors participate in a traditional cacao ceremony prepared by his wife.

A Rich History and Artisanal Future

Puerto Rico's relationship with cacao dates to indigenous Taíno culture, long before European contact. Historical records reference cacao cultivation on the island from the 1700s. Today's artisanal producers oversee the full bean-to-bar process, experimenting with tropical flavour pairings — passion fruit, rum, coffee, guava, and local spices — and opening farms to agritourism visitors. In Old San Juan, chocolaterie Ferangi Chocolat on Calle Fortaleza has become a popular destination, where founder Blessie Casul serves innovative chocolate creations that celebrate the island's agricultural heritage. The movement is attracting chefs, tourists, and food lovers who see Puerto Rican chocolate as an authentic, high-quality product deserving of global attention.