“There is nothing better than a friend, unless you are a friend with chocolate
. ”
- Linda Grayson -
“There is nothing better than a friend, unless you are a friend with chocolate
. ”
- Linda Grayson -
On the island of São Tomé, an entire village is mobilizing to create exceptional chocolate.
Located in the west of the African continent, next to the equator, the island of São Tomé and Príncipe is an archipelago located in the center of the world. The richness of the volcanic soil and the local climate, make it a unique terroir that allows to produce one of the best cocoa in the world.
The natural conditions allow the capsules and their grains to acquire a harmonious maturity. São Tomé and Principe Island is a privileged place, where the soil, the sun and the vegetation occupy an important place, and result in a typical cocoa, in several aspects.
We are a family owned and operated business.
As for a great wine, the “terroir” is a key element in the design of chocolate. Without the rare and natural ecosystem of São Tomé, nothing would be possible, and it is revealed thanks to the ancestral know-how of the inhabitants of the village and the work of Diogo Vaz's team. It is necessary to select the varieties, work on the mixtures, adapt the techniques and define the growing conditions. This work is unique.
In addition to creating economic activity and strengthening villagers' know-how, every year:
1 • We develop children's education: building or renovating schools (300 students), creating day care centers, financing schooling, internships, school transport, etc.
We are a family owned and operated business.
2 • We offer professional training and driving lessons (driving school).
We are a family owned and operated business.
3 • We take care of the medical monitoring of employees: a doctor available to employees in the event of illness or accident at work and the creation of an ambulance service.
We are a family owned and operated business.
4 • We strictly adhere to an environmental approach: food self-sufficiency, waste collection and recycling, donation of seeds to residents, shared gardens, etc.
We are a family owned and operated business.
5 • We renovate historic buildings and rebuild buildings within the village to improve living conditions: drinking water, sanitation, etc.
We are a family owned and operated business.
6 • We create social and economic aid for villagers: family allowances, retirement, women's integration program, microcredit.
To create Diogo Vaz chocolate, an entire village must be mobilized.