Puratos to launch cell-based cocoa for US chocolatiers
In Belgium, global confectioner Puratos is planning a US launch of a chocolate product made from cell-based cocoa in 2026.
Formulated for chocolatiers, the product was developed in collaboration with California Cultured, which produces its cell‑based cocoa by sampling cocoa plants with ideal flavor and aroma profiles. These cells are then grown in fermentation tanks that replicate rainforest‑like conditions, enabling cocoa production without the land, climate vulnerability, or deforestation pressures tied to conventional farming.
“The future of the chocolate industry depends on our ability to innovate responsibly,” Youri Dumon, director of Puratos’s chocolate business unit, told Green Queen. “Exploring new approaches such as cultured cocoa allows us to build on that foundation and continue shaping a more resilient future for chocolate.”
Category: Chemicals & Materials
