Dominica

Dominica grows cacao in small volumes on volcanic Eastern Caribbean soils, with heritage estate cultivation dating from the colonial period. Bois Cotlette, a Soufrière estate established in the 1720s, has maintained continuous Criollo cultivation and represents one of the longest-running cacao farms in the region. The island’s rainforest interior and mineral-rich soils support flavour-led cacao despite small total area planted.

Production is artisanal-scale and oriented to specialty makers rather than bulk export. Climate change and hurricane exposure — notably Maria in 2017 — have shaped recent replanting patterns. Dominica remains a minor producer by volume but holds historical and genetic interest as a Criollo refugium in the Eastern Caribbean.