Looking for cacao with both exceptional flavor and meaningful impact? Meet Zorzal Cacao, home to the Dominican Republic’s first-ever cacao-producing conservation reserve where birds, beans, and biodiversity create something extraordinary.
Conservation and craft chocolate make perfect partners. Zorzal Cacao proves it every day in Duarte Province, demonstrating that premium cacao production and environmental protection can work hand in hand.
We’ve partnered with Zorzal to bring you their complete product range: beans, butter, liquor, and powder from this groundbreaking conservation model.
Protecting the natural habitat of endangered birds is at the heart of Zorzal. This cacao-producing conservation reserve and surrounding farms in the Dominican Republic’s Duarte Province operate on the principle that exceptional cacao can fund critical conservation work.
Working with local growers throughout the region, Zorzal implements organic farming principles while supporting ongoing conservation efforts. The model creates a sustainable approach where cacao production and environmental protection strengthen each other rather than compete.
This approach has proven successful for both farmers and wildlife, creating economic opportunities while preserving critical habitat for endangered species.
The Zorzal Comunitario farmers hold a distinction found nowhere else on earth: they’re home to the world’s first Smithsonian Museum-certified Bird Friendly Cocoa farms. This certification recognizes farming practices that actively support bird habitat and migration patterns.
The certification process requires strict adherence to organic farming principles, forest canopy preservation, and biodiversity protection standards. These farmers have demonstrated that cacao production can enhance rather than harm critical bird habitat.
Citrus and chocolate working in perfect harmony create Zorzal’s signature profile.
Flavor Intensity:
Central fermentation in wooden boxes and solar drying tunnels ensure consistent quality across harvests. The controlled processing creates the balanced flavor profile that makes Zorzal cacao work across applications from single-origin bars to complex blends.
Our local partner, Zorzal Cacao, works directly with cacao farmers to implement organic farming principles and supports the reserve’s ongoing conservation efforts for the Bicknell’s Thrush and other endemic bird species. Through continuous education on best practices, they’re enhancing production, providing economic support to the area, and reinforcing the biodiversity of this valuable ecosystem.
We buy their beans and pay premiums to support their pursuit of conservation and farmer education. This creates a closer connection between chocolate makers purchasing Zorzal cacao and the conservation work happening on the ground in the Dominican Republic.
The premium pricing enables Zorzal to provide technical training, maintain organic certification standards, and invest in conservation infrastructure. Every purchase supports both farmer livelihoods and habitat preservation.
Want to get a feel for what life is like at Zorzal? Watch The Birds & The Beans – where American filmmaker Pete Warren tells the story of Zorzal Cacao.
Zorzal cacao offers chocolate makers the combination of consistent quality and authentic story that today’s conscious consumers seek. The Bird Friendly certification provides a unique selling point while the balanced flavor profile works across applications.
The complete traceability from specific farms to final export means artisans can receive detailed information about growing conditions, processing methods, and conservation impact for each lot. Technical specifications and quality data are available to support production planning and customer communication.
Want to see Zorzal in person? Join the Dominican Republic Origin Masterclass at their farm, April 12-19, 2026.
Join us for an immersive journey through the entire cocoa value chain, led by experts with over two decades of experience. You’ll get to visit farms for hands-on learning, see expert demonstrations, participate in learning sessions and gain real-world insights along the way.
This masterclass is part of a partnership with Zorzal Cacao, and it’s the perfect place to network with fellow cocoa professionals – you never know what new ideas and opportunities might come your way!
Ready to experience conservation-driven cacao that delivers on both flavor and values?
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At Cacao Latitudes, we connect you with exceptional cacao from partners who prove that business can be a force for positive change. Zorzal demonstrates what’s possible when conservation and craft work together.
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