Here at Santa Barbara Chocolate, we think that the best chocolate comes from the people who grow it, the land they work, and the relationships that shape the entire process from planting the cacao tree to selling the finished product. Ethical sourcing, open collaborations, and high-quality cacao cultivated using fair trade methods are the cornerstones of our Safe Trade Chocolate.
This chocolate is developed in collaboration with certified partners and brokers who work directly with cacao co-operatives in Ecuador. These long-standing relationships are central to how we bring carefully sourced, flavor-rich chocolate to your kitchen, bakery, or retail shelves.
What Is Safe Trade Chocolate?
Safe Trade Chocolate is a sourcing policy and product line that ensures cacao is obtained through responsible, equitable practices that support both farmers and final product quality.
Rather than relying on generic supply chains or commodity markets, our Safe Trade approach works through direct trade networks. Our brokers work with tiny cacao cooperatives and individual farming families in Ecuador, ensuring openness, consistency, and traceability across the supply chain.
Every bar or couverture batch made under the Safe Trade label meets the following criteria:
- Ethical pricing for farmers
- GMO-free ingredients
- 100% natural processing
- Regionally traceable cacao sourced from Ecuadorian farms
- Respect for fermentation and roasting methods that preserve unique flavors
Sourcing Cocoa Beans from Ecuador’s Central Highlands
Ecuador is known for growing world-class cacao. Cacao trees thrive in its equatorial climate, volcanic soil, and biodiversity. Arriba Nacional cacao beans, prized for their complex flavor, floral aroma, and chocolate-making history, are native to the country.
Our brokers work directly with cacao co-operatives across Ecuador’s central highland rainforests, where cacao is grown by small family farms. These farms promote ecological balance and biodiversity by cultivating chocolate alongside native species.
The harvested cacao beans are delivered to Ecuador's primary cocoa export hub, Guayaquil. They go through a rigorous sorting and grading process there based on type, color, and fermentation level. This step is essential for quality assurance and flavor control.
Paying Fair Prices for Exceptional Quality
A foundational part of Safe Trade Chocolate is the commitment to paying a higher-than-market price—what we refer to as a “top-shelf price”—for the cacao beans used in this chocolate.
Why does this matter?
- It recognises the effort involved in growing and fermenting high-quality cacao and provides farmers with a stable income.
- It relieves farmers of pressure to overproduce or cut corners in post-harvest management.
- It supports more sustainable land use and long-term farming practices.
Instead than bargaining only on volume or commodity prices, Safe Trade pricing is founded on relationship-based contracting, which rewards both quality and ethical value.
Thoughtful Roasting for Flavor Preservation
Cacao flavor starts with the bean—but it’s the fermentation, drying, and roasting stages that shape the taste you’ll ultimately enjoy in your chocolate bar.
After sorting, each batch of beans is evaluated for the best preparation procedure. Depending on the cacao variety and fermentation level, some beans are lightly roasted to preserve floral or fruity aromas, while others are kept unroasted to retain raw cacao properties.
The goal is not uniformity—but to allow the origin and nature of each batch to speak for itself. This approach delivers depth and distinction in flavor, something mass-market chocolate rarely offers.
What Makes Arriba Nacional Cacao Unique?
Safe Trade Chocolate frequently features Arriba Nacional cacao, a prized variety grown only in select regions of Ecuador. This heirloom cacao is known for its:
- Floral aroma
- Low acidity
- Smooth mouthfeel
- Notes of honey, nuts, and dried fruits
Ecuador has a long history of cacao cultivation, resulting in some of the world's most flavorful cacao beans. This heritage-rich source is carefully protected using traditional agricultural methods.
By focusing on this variety through Safe Trade sourcing, we help to preserve heirloom cacao while also producing full-bodied and sophisticated chocolate.
GMO-Free and 100% Natural Chocolate
Every batch of Safe Trade Chocolate is made using only non-GMO and natural ingredients. No additives, synthetic flavorings, or artificial colorings are used. The chocolate is made with a focus on simplicity—using cacao beans, cane sugar (when required), and cocoa butter from natural sources.
This is chocolate that stays true to its roots, from soil to shelf.
A Commitment That Goes Beyond the Label
While terms like “ethical” and “sustainable” are common in today’s food world, Safe Trade Chocolate represents more than a marketing phrase. It is a practical system built on long-term collaboration, fair pay, and maintaining the identity of fine cacao.
This chocolate is about mutual confidence between supplier and grower, attention to the skill of post-harvest processing, and an emphasis on flavor that starts on the farm.
By purchasing Safe Trade Chocolate from Santa Barbara Chocolate, you are supporting a model that cherishes tradition, business ethics, and never sacrifices quality.