In 2017, Dandelion Chocolate made our first bar from Asian beans. Produced in Tamil Nadu, one of two southernmost Indian states — a region known more for tigers than cacao — these beans are the result of hard work, focus on sustainability, and a holistic approach.

At Regal Plantations, just outside Anamalai in Tamil Nadu, brothers-in-law Karthikeyan Palanisamy and Harish Kumar cultivate cacao trees intercropped with coconut palms, nutmeg trees, and other smaller species (including papaya and pepper), improving both the health of the soil and the quality of the crops. Harish is originally from Pollachi (near Regal Plantations) and for many years his family ran multiple farms around Pollachi, cultivating mostly coconut, cacao, and nutmeg.

While Harish and his family had long farmed cacao, it was of relatively low quality, and the prices were equally low. In 2014, Harish took over his family’s farms, and decided to work with Karthi to improve the quality and flavor of the cacao being cultivated between 30-year-old coconut palms. It was a risky endeavor, but it paid off in excellent, flavorful cocoa.