> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://thechocolatelife.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Cacao & Chocolate in the DR | #PodSaveChocolate Ep93 - URL: https://thechocolatelife.com/cacao-chocolate-in-the-dr-podsavechocolate-ep93/ - Published: 2025-01-16T23:30:06.000Z - Updated: 2025-01-20T18:10:30.000Z - Description: Episode 93 of #PodSaveChocolate features an interview with Thomas Forbes, a long-time member of TheChocolateLife with close ties and personal experience in cacao and chocolate in the Dominican Republic. - Author: Clay Gordon - Tags: PodSaveChocolate, Live Stream **When and Where to Watch** 🗓️ The stream airs at LIVE 11:00 ****MST** (10:00 PST, 12:00 CST, 13:00 EST), on Friday, January 17th, 2024. Links below to watch live – or to view the archived episode. Click on this (shareable) link to watch on YouTube. Please subscribe (free!) to the [@PodSaveChocolate YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@podsavechocolate/featured?ref=thechocolatelife.com), like this video, comment, and ****share** this episode to help grow the #PSC community. [Clay Gordon on LinkedIn: #podsavechocolate #lavidacocoa #thechocolatelife #cacao #cocoa #cacau…Episode Overview Episode 93 of #PodSaveChocolate features an interview with Thomas Forbes, a long-time member of TheChocolateLife with close ties and…![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/al2o9zrvru7aqj8e1x2rzsrca)LinkedInClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/c45fy346jw096z9pbphyyhdz7)](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/claygordon%5Fpodsavechocolate-lavidacocoa-thechocolatelife-activity-7285795513445105664-beDh?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fdesktop) This ****LINKEDIN** link is shareable. [Cacao & Chocolate in the DR | #PodSaveChocolate Ep93Other event by TheChocolateLife on Friday, January 17 2025![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/aGT3gskzWBf.ico)#PodSaveChocolate Ep93![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/473640607_1013511377485734_8438830504556359736_n.jpg)](https://fb.me/e/2cShAS23X?ref=thechocolatelife.com) This ****FACEBOOK** link is also shareable. --- ## **Episode 93 Overview** In this episode of #PodSaveChocolate I will be interviewing long-time ChocolateLife member Thomas Forbes (currently in the Dominican Republic on an extended visit). Thomas first arrived in the DR as a Peace Corps volunteer in 1987-89 in San Francisco de Macoris. He worked primarily on developing a rural solar energy business with two brothers, Francisco and Jesus Frias. He returned in 1997-99 to manage SOLUZ Dominicana on the North Coast which developed a solar energy utility company. In 2011, Thomas was asked to translate for a US-based consultant working at the CONACADO plant in San Francisco de Macoris under a USAID/Equal Exchange/TCHO grant. He did this for two consecutive summers, reconnecting with his original Peace Corps site in Los Naranjos de Castillo where a women’s association was working to expand its chocolate-making capabilities beyond the “bolas de cacao” used in rural areas. Thomas first became a member of TheChocolateLife shortly after it went live and we met in person on many occasions when I lived in the New York metro area (he lives in New Jersey). We have also been in contact because Thomas has been (is still?) making chocolate from cocoa beans. This episode will explore Thomas’ connections to cocoa and chocolate on the island, explore some of the history of cocoa, and examine some of my experiences visiting the Dominican Republic in pursuit of my ChocolateLife for the Swiss chocolate maker Felchlin and looking for partners to help produce Solbeso, a distilled spirit made from fresh cacao juice. --- ### **Where’s Hispaniola?** ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/01/GoogleMap-Region_Overall.jpg) Overall map showing where the island of Hispaniola is in the Caribben ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/01/GoogleMap-DR_North.jpg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/01/GoogleMap-DR_Central.jpg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/01/GoogleMap-DR_Sanchez.jpg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/01/GoogleMap-DR_SCentral.jpg) Top row: \[L\] The North Coast; \[R\] Exploring place names. Bottom row: \[L\] The Bay of Samana and the port of Sanchez; \[R\] From San Pedro north through Hato Mayor on the way to Sabana de la Mar. ### **Image Galleries** All photos ©2025 Thomas Forbes ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/01/Pod_1-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/01/Pod_2-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/01/DryingTable-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/01/GrupoRizek-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/01/Conacado-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/01/COOPROAGRO-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/01/OkoCaribe-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/01/HeritageChocolate-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/01/DefiniteChocolate-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/01/CortesCentroVistantes-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/01/ChocolateriaNortenaMain-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/01/MilzChocolat-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/01/KahKowExperience_Bull-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/01/Rizek_ElSendero-Large.jpeg) --- ### **Resources** [Dominican-Republic-Case-Study-ReportIESC-USDA study (2021)Dominican-Republic-Case-Study-Report.pdf12 MBdownload-circle](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/files/2025/01/Dominican-Republic-Case-Study-Report.pdf "Download") [Chocolate Dominicano¡Logremos que el chocolate sea un motivo más para sentirnos orgullosos de ser dominicanos!![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/485d82_f6fe50f6160f486ba306413120cc99bf~mv2.png)Chocolate.do![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/181de9_e266239de64f4043a2e512dae5dbc737~mv2.jpeg)](https://www.chocolate.do/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) [Zorzal Cacao – Fine Flavored Cacao![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)logo![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/TheBirdsAndTheBeans_Poster-uai-258x379.jpg)](https://zorzalcacao.com/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) [Öko-CaribeCacao de alta calidad con responsabilidad social y ambiental![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/webclip.png)Öko-CaribeSobre nosotros![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/blank.jpg)](https://oko-caribe.com/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) [Quienes Somos - CONACADOQUIÉNES SOMOS 01 Historia CONACADO surge de la alianza exitosa entre pequeños y medianos productores de cacao; con el apoyo del Departamento de Cacao del Ministerio y la Agencia de Cooperación Alemana GTZ. El objetivo de esta alianza fue mejorar la calidad del cacao dominicano a través de los pilares EDUCAR Y ORGANIZAR a los \[…\]![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/Logo-sin-Slogan.png)CONACADO![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/Planta-Conacado-Full-min.png)](https://conacado.com.do/en/quienes-somos/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) [Rizek Cacao![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/webclip.png)![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/6090951737bae45674573f2f_Rizek%20Cacao%20S.A.S.%20Logo.JPG)](https://www.rizekcacao.com/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) 🔗 Roig Agro-Cacao on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/roig.agrocacao/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) [Dominican Republic / República Dominicana - Make Mine FineAt a Glance Population: 11 millionCapital: Santo DomingoRural population: 17.5%Median age: 28 yearsCocoa Production: 85,000 tons/yearProduction ranking: 9th The Dominican Republic is a trustworthy source of sustainably produced fine or flavor cacao, offering opportunities for direct relationships with cacao growers or cooperatives. The marketing structure delivers producers one of the highest rates of return in \[…\]![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/cropped-MMF-Icon-Circle-Brown-1-270x270.png)Make Mine Fine![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/1000px-Dominican_Republic_in_the_world_W3.svg_.png)](https://www.makeminefine.com/cocoa-sustainability/dominican-republic-republica-dominicana/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) --- ### **Questions?** If you have questions or want to comment, you can do so during the episode or, if you are a ChocolateLife member, you can add them in the Comments below at ***any*** time. --- ### **More Episode Hashtags (and Related Accounts to Follow)** #DominicanRepublic #cocoa #cacao #cacau #chocolate #chocolat #craftchocolate #PodSaveChoc #PSC #LaVidaCocoa #TheChocolateLife --- ### **Future Episodes** 🗓️ ****Friday January 17th** ChocolateLife Member Thomas Forbes – The Current State of Cacao and Chocolate in the Dominican Republic --- ### **#PodSaveChocolate and #TheChocolateLifeLIVE Archives** **To read an archived post** and find the links to watch archived episodes, click on one of the bookmark cards, below. [Pod Save Chocolate Calendar and ArchiveNews, views, and conversations on topics in cocoa and chocolate streamed live to YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook. #PodSaveChocolate!![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2020/12/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons.png)The Chocolate LifeClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2023/11/TagImageBanner-PodSaveChocTagFinal_1920x1080-5.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/pod-save-chocolate-calendar-and-archive/) [#TheChocolateLifeLIVE ArchiveNews, views, and conversations on topics in cocoa and chocolate streamed live to YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2020/12/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons.png)The Chocolate LifeClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2023/03/solen-feyissa-WG7v_wYZW4Q-unsplash-CalendarFeatured1920x1080.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/thechocolatelife-live-calendar/) [PodSaveChocolateHosted by Clay Gordon, the creator and moderator of TheChocolateLife.com, #PodSaveChocolate covers a wide variety of topics in the worlds of cocoa and chocolate. The video versions of this podcast are hosted and archived on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Click on the PodSaveChocolate link in the top nav on TheChocolateLife for the links to the post accompanying each episode.![](https://pnc.st/static/img/256x256.png)Pinecast![](https://social.pinecast.net/preview_card/podcasts/covers/d3730dca-0711-4720-9ef3-3b18918c1f0d/TagImageBanner-PodSaveChocTagFinal_1920x1080.jpg?title=PodSaveChocolate)](https://pnc.st/s/podsavechocolate?ref=thechocolatelife.com) Audio-only podcasts --- ## Not a Member? Live The Chocolate Life – Live La Vida Cocoa! Sign up for Free to comment and receive members-only content. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. 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