Panama Learned to Taste Coffee. Cacao May Be Next.
This article is a summary of reporting by Newsroom Panama. Originally published September 2, 2026.
As Panama developed an internationally celebrated culture around tasting and grading specialty coffee, culinary creators are turning similar attention to artisanal cacao. Highlighting beans harvested from farms in the Chiriquí province, dedicated tasting events in Panama City illustrate the parallel flavor complexities found in chocolate and coffee. The movement aims to educate consumers on origin, terroir, and nuances much like the specialty coffee movement did decades prior.
AI Summary
Building on Panama's refined specialty coffee tasting culture, local culinary pioneers are exploring single-origin cacao from Chiriquí.
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