Ghana- Fair Trade Certified – Forastero 2009

Country of origin Variety
Ghana – Kuapa Kokoo co-op Forastero

This is the 2nd time we have been able to offer this bean. They are from a Co-op in Ghana by the name of Kuapa Kokoo, a Fair Trade co-op.

As for the cocoa itself, it is a fully fermented Forastero. The aroma – significantly less astringency than quite a number of Forastero I have tasted. It has hints of light biscuit, a little vanilla and of course the rather characteristic and “classic” earthy chocolate aroma. In this case, the chocolate aroma is actually a rounder than previous years. There is also an interesting hint of lightly slightly ripe peach or apricot in the aroma while roasting. I rather liked that.

There is a bit more variation in size in this particular lot. The preparation otherwise is very clean. There are a number of indications that this bean has a little Trinatario in its past, although that is a bit odd, but not unheard of, in this region. The beans are easier to peel by hand than most Forastero and similarly the husk is lighter. The vanilla aroma continues in the bean along with tobacco, humus and peat – all very classic Forastero. There is also some higher notes (alluding again to some Trinatario) of fruit, particularly raisin and that peach/apricot. There is a moderate amount of astringency, but well balanced by the rest of the flavor profile.