Myanmar is much more closely associated with ancient temples and civil war than burgeoning agriculture and tourism, yet both of the latter are on the rise in the country. And for those not yet aware, Myanmar also grows an increasing amount of cacao, all of which is processed into value-added chocolate, totaling near one ton a month. Each ingredient— almost all organically, locally grown— is carefully sourced by a small team led by long-term expat Jean-Yves Branchard.

The towering Frenchman is a pioneer in the Burmese cacao scene, having brought over a dozen varietals of cacao to Myanmar in the early 2000’s. But why has it taken you so long to hear of chocolate made in Myanmar? Well, almost none of this tree-to-bar Burmese chocolate is available outside of the country. But you’ll have to listen in on our conversation to find out why.

To read an article on cacao & chocolate in neighboring Thailand, click here.

Show notes: https://damecacao.com/chocolate-on-the-road-myanmar/

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