The Talamanca region of Caribbean Costa Rica is a smallholder cacao landscape with a strong Indigenous farming tradition, where cacao has been grown since pre-Columbian times. Producers are organised largely through APPTA, founded in 1987, and a large share of growers are Indigenous women.
Country
Costa Rica
Region
Limón (Talamanca)
Growing region
Americas
Coordinates
9.57°, -82.90° (approx.)
Elevation
20-300 m
Producer
cooperative · APPTA
Genetic groups
admixture
Traditional class
Trinitario
Bean notes
Smallholder cacao, much of it farmed by Bribri and Cabécar Indigenous communities; populations include CATIE-developed clones and older mixed material.
Harvest season
main Oct-Feb; secondary crop mid-year
Fermentation
Smallholder and cooperative box fermentation.
Drying
Sun-dried, often under cover due to high rainfall.
Flavour
fruity · floral · nutty · bright
Certifications
organic
Updated
2026-05-22
Sources
Tico Times — Cultivating Tradition: Organic Cacao in Costa Rica: https://ticotimes.net/2004/05/21/organic-cacao-sweet-success
La Casa del Cacao — The History of Cocoa in Costa Rica: https://casadelcacao.net/the-history-of-cocoa-in-costa-rica/