To increase the export potential of the country’s chocolate, Trinidad and Tobago Fine Cocoa Company (TTFCC) announced they are going to build a new chocolate processing facility.
Director of TTFCC, Ashley Parasram spoke of the organisations ambitions and their pride of having original Trinitario Cocoa, from Trinidad and Tobago, during the launch event, held at the Hilton.
Trinidad developed a hybrid between the Criollo and Forastero trees in 1678. The Trinitario fine chocolate is known for its floral and fruity characteristics. In the 19th century, Trinitario trees were widely distributed and could be found in Venezuela, Ecuador, Cameroon, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Java, and Papua New Guinea.
Ashley Parasram, Director of TTFCC
We will fully utilise our agreements with the EU and the UK…(and). Further develop our activities in the chocolate industry even more.
If all goes to plan, the factory should be completed by the end of 2022, and customers will be targeted mostly in the US, but also the UK and EU.
That date looks a bit ambitious at the moment, since the location for the new facility hasn’t been agreed. But Parasram said they have narrowed the choice to two locations; the first near Port of Spain and the second near to their existing facilities by Piarco International Airport.
The event got a boost by the attendance of Michael Laiskonis, who is the director of the Institute of Culinary Education in New York and three-star Michelin chef
Laiskonis said he visited several local cocoa farms during his visit and observed the production process. Top chefs understand the importance of quality ingredients better than anyone, and can involve themselves in the entire production process, as did, for example, Pierre Marcolini who won the award for best pastry chef in 2020
At the end of the day, what comes out of it is a fine, labelled quality chocolate, made in Trinidad.
Ashley Parasram, Director of TTFCC
TTFCC has already had success in distribution around the world, and can be found in top stores like Harrods, in the UK, which carries fine Trinidad and Tobago chocolate from a selection of estates around the country.
