Paradai - Dark chocolate Nakhon Si Thammarat 70% Red Pods - THAILAND - 50g
The cocoa in this Paradai Red Pod single-origin dark chocolate, which contains cocoa from the Nakhon Si Thammarat region, comes exclusively from red cocoa beans, which represent only about 10% of the harvest. These cocoa beans behave differently: they ferment faster and at a higher fermentation temperature. This results in a chocolate with unique aromas and a particularly interesting flavor profile of citrus, sour cherry, lychee, soursop, rum, and honey.
This particular Paradai chocolate was awarded a gold medal at the International Chocolate Awards World Final 2023, as well as a gold medal in the overall ranking of the International Awards Asia Pacific 2024.
Nakhon Si Thammarat province is located in the south of the country, on the east coast of the Malay Peninsula leading to the Gulf of Thailand. The contrasting red illustrations of Ramakien characters and cocoa plants on a dark background are reminiscent of the pre-selected red fruits that form the base of this chocolate.
Red pod cocoa beans (70% Thailand), cane sugar
Cocoa farmer and chocolate maker
Yai Jud is approaching 90 years old and has always cultivated cocoa on the family plantation. This cocoa farmer is a true Thai legend, and the cocoa she produces grows on trees over forty years old, without any chemical inputs or pesticides. Paradai has collaborated with her since the brand's inception in 2017, and the first bars produced were made from her exceptional cocoa.
PARADAi Phurich and Warit, two best friends, founded the PARADAi chocolate factory in 2016, after rediscovering abandoned cocoa trees in their home country, in the backyards of Nakhon Si Thammarat. PARADAi, which means “companions” or “friendship” in Thai, aims to utilize these forgotten plants and has since been purchasing very small quantities of Single Origin cocoa pods from local farmers in different regions of Thailand. PARADAi works exclusively through direct trade with selected cocoa farmers who cultivate their cocoa purely naturally. These farms are too small to afford organic certification, but they do not use chemicals or pesticides on their plantations. They also grow their cocoa in agroforestry systems with other trees and plants and do not clear forests. For all these reasons, and because they systematically avoid intermediaries, the growers receive a significantly higher price than average for their cocoa beans. After two years of preparation, PARADAi opened its first chocolate café with a small-batch chocolate factory in Bangkok's Old Town in 2018. Meanwhile, they employ about 25 people who are involved in the production and export of Thai culture through e...
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