West Africa produces more cocoa than any other growing area in the world.

The majority of the cocoa grown there is the Forestero type, which originated in the Amazon Basin and was transported to West Africa by the British and French in the 18th Century.

It is usually grown on small-holdings, amongst other crops, such as maize and yam. It is grown under the shade of larger trees, often banana.

West African cocoas have been used to produce the finest European chocolates from over a century and we select the best flavoured cocoa powders to make chocolate drinks for the UK today.