You might remember from the summer a photo of Vince in sweat soaked T-shirts, trekking through the northern Philippines visiting with cacao farmers and researchers (and scaring the daylights out of us with pics of spiders and cane toads).

Well, it’s been several months in the making, but the fruits of that journey are now ready to share with you in the form of a new bar that embodies the beauty of collaborative work. We are super excited to share our newest limited release featuring rare, single-estate cacao beans grown in the northern Philippine province of Isabela in the Cagayan Valley.

The beans were sourced on a recent trip to the Philippines this past August 2021 in collaboration with Dr. Myleen Corpuz and her team at the Cagayan Valley Cacao Development Centre and farming partner Manong Edgar Nicolas, to create this special chocolate bar with notes of caramelized banana, chocolate cake, and rum.

The design of the chocolate cover was art directed & illustrated by our friend, New York-based designer & educator, Ana Mengote Baluca @amengote for the cultural art exhibit Bagay at Buhay: Objects and the Filipino Diaspora @bagay.at.buhay Together we highlight the richness of Filipino culture by showcasing everyday objects in a new light. The pattern is inspired by indigenous weaves and textiles of the Gaddang and Yogad speaking people in Isabela. Both Vince & Ana have roots in the Cagayan Valley, making this special collaboration with Dr. Corpuz and Mang Edgar extra meaningful. Mabbalat!

Available online, at the Kasama workshop, and at the Bagay At Buhay Exhibit in New York City (exhibit runs until November 28).