Chocolate’s aroma begins long before it reaches the factory.

Fermentation and drying on the farm, followed by roasting, build the foundations of cocoa aroma.

Editorial approachCarefully researched, with sources you can see.

Originally published in Bulgarian on 19 August 2026 · English edition published on 9 October 2026.

Taste04

Natural cocoa powder — Flavour is the result of care at every stage of the journey.

After the fruit is opened, the moist cocoa beans are fermented and dried. According to the International Cocoa Organization, an important part of flavour develops on the farm through proper fermentation.

Roasting at the processor is another key step. A full cocoa aroma depends on careful work at both stages: flavour is the result of care throughout the chain.

Sources

Industry source · International Cocoa Organization →

Chocolate stories.

History

Cocoa’s story began around 5,300 years ago.

Archaeological evidence from Ecuador points to the Upper Amazon as the earliest known centre of cocoa use and domestication.

Read the story →Botany

“Food of the gods”, flowering straight from the trunk.

Theobroma cacao flowers directly on its trunk and branches, while its seeds become the foundation of chocolate.

Read the story →Culture

Before the chocolate bar, cocoa was a drink, a ritual and a form of value.

In Maya and Aztec cultures, cocoa featured as a drink, a ritual symbol and a medium of exchange.

Read the story →Quality and storage

Why chocolate turns white — and what bloom can (and cannot) tell you

Fat bloom and sugar bloom can look alike but have different causes. Here is how to read a pale coating without jumping to conclusions.

Read the story →History

From Sant’Alberto to Laica: the chocolate story that began in Arona in 1946

From Sant’Alberto to Laica’s signature, “Love for chocolate. 1946 Arona, Italy”: an editorial account of the company’s growth, automation and continuity.

Read the story →Taste

How to taste chocolate: 7 steps for a clearer impression

Seven steps for a more attentive chocolate tasting, from the first look and aroma to texture and aftertaste.

Read the story →

A taste before a decisionLaica · Lago · your choice

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