There are 3 main cultivar groups of cacao beans grown today:
Forastero, Trinitario and Criollo.
ChoCoaque Rustico Cacao Paste 'Liquor' is made from 100% Heirloom Criollo Cacao beans.
The Criollo
group is the most rare and expensive of the three.
Criollo trees are
difficult to grow, and account for no more than
5% of the world's cacao crop.
The chocolate made from the
Criollo bean has a delicate and complex array of
flavors.
Often referred to as the “King of Cacao,” Criollo is highly prized and
is used by many of the new
“micro chocolate makers.”