International Cocoa Awards

Mabong and Moli have helped put Vanuatu on the global cocoa map for fine chocolate.

The two men celebrated with the winners today as they received Certificates of Recognition at the Salon du Chocolat in Paris, France.

Their cocoa bean samples were among the initial 166 samples submitted from 44 cocoa producing countries.

Every two years, this unique Programme spearheaded by Bioversity International and Event International recognizes quality, flavour and diversity of cocoas according to their origin. 

The Cocoa of Excellence Programme announced the top 50 cocoa bean samples for 2017 from those submitted from 40 countries.

Moli, 44, shared his excitement at hearing the news, "I was pruning my cocoa trees and heard the sound of a text message on my phone. It was from Sandrine Wallez, the Director of  ACTIV Association (Alternative Communities Trade in Vanuatu). I read the text, which said my cocoa beans were in the top 50 in the world. I put down my phone and I cried. The news created a feeling in me of achieving self-reliance.”