Chocolate industry establishes global cacao bean quality lab

12 articles · Updated · NPR · May 10

The new lab underpins a "Standard of Excellence" programme designed to evaluate cacao beans from producers worldwide.
The initiative aims to create recognised benchmarks for chocolate quality, bringing the sector closer to standards long used in wine and coffee.
Consumers could gain clearer signals of quality, while farmers may benefit from stronger recognition and incentives for higher-grade cacao.

Beyond taste, how does the new standard guarantee chocolate is free from deforestation and unethical labor?

As cocoa prices hit record highs, will this new quality standard make premium chocolate an unaffordable luxury?

Can a focus on 'terroir' save traditional cacao farms when lab-grown chocolate is on the horizon?