60% Honduras Milk Chocolate

HONDURAS

Region: Copan
Variety: Mayan Red Trinitario
Source: XOCO Cooperative 
Conditions: 600m above sea level 
Fermentation: Fermented and dried at post-harvest centre

Mayan Red is a unique Honduran Trinitario, discovered and cultivated by XOCO. This variety was almost extinct when found in 2006 in three small neighbouring farms in the jungle of Northern Honduras. Mayan Red is named after their Mayan heritage and distinct red pod. It is genetically unique to Honduras and belongs in the group of exotic varieties.

The trees are spaced 3 x 3m apart to ensure that they can live off the nutrients of the land – meaning a vast majority of farmers do not need to use fertilizers or pesticides.

During the first year and a half, the trees have to be nursed intensely by the farmers in order to keep fungus and insects at bay. In the dry season, the farm lays large leaves around the foot of the trees to ensure humidity.

Mayan Red is collected, fermented and dried by XOCO in their post-harvest centre. The beans are fermented for 5 days in wooden boxes, with two turns applied. The process is finished when the pH values of the pulp and the bean converge. The beans are then dried in the sun for 7-8 days.

The flavour is full bodied and fruity. In our Honduras 60% Milk, it has taste notes of raisin, double cream and fudge.

A little bit about us:

We are Cameron and Lara, the makers behind Bare Bones Chocolate. We have been obsessed with specialty coffee and food for the last 10 years, and that passion quickly translated into chocolate about 3 years ago. We dreamed of having our own chocolate company and can't think of a better way to spend our days. 

With a passion for coffee and bicycles, Cam is a mechanical engineer and is behind the precision and focus that goes into being a chocolate maker. He is constantly tweaking and designing new machinery and makes sure the chocolate tastes better with every batch. 

Lara is a food photographer and chef with a passion for cats and cookies. She is the person behind the handwritten notes in each order, curates the Bare Bones Instagram and wraps each bar in the beautiful brown paper.