Åkesson’s Chocolate
Plantation Owners & Single Estate Chocolate Producers
Bertil Akesson’s father is the indirect reasoning for Bertil’s cocoa endeavor. He was a Swedish diplomat in the 1940’s, however moved to Cameroon years later for a new position in global trade. Come 1970, his father moved to Madagascar and purchased mining companies and sisal plantations.
So it is in Madagascar, at their family estates, that Bertil’s journey through the fascinating world of cocoa, spices and other delicious natural wonders really started. Over many years he has learned secrets and subtleties of managing and developing plantations. Ultimately, he focused on and specialized in fine cocoa and spices, whilst his consistent aim was to achieve the highest quality in a sustainable way.
Today, Bertil has plantations in Madagascar, in Brazil and Indonesia, supplying world famous chocolatiers and chefs. In close collaboration with these passionate artists, Bertil experienced the fascinating artwork to conjure cocoa into chocolate or how pepper enhances recipes and, ultimately, he launched a small and exclusive line of chocolate and fine exotic foods.
The creation of Åkesson’s brand could not have taken place without the close collaboration and support of Bertil’s family and friends. Together, we now invite you to a journey of discoveries through the world of our tropical foods.
Shop All Åkesson's Single Plantation Chocolate
Fazenda Sempre Firme Brazil Forastero 100% Dark Chocolate Bar
100% Paradise
Fazenda Sempre Firme is a 120ha cocoa plantation right in the middle of the Mata Atlantica, the wild forest with the highest biodiversity on earth. Bertil Akesson and his Brazilian partner Dr. Angelo Calmon de Sa were able to recreate a social structure and their best reward is to hear the community referring to the Fazenda as a “Paraiso”(paradise).
They are growing the traditional and astonishing Forastero cocoa variety called “parasinho” that made the glory of Bahia at the beginning of the 20th century. The chocolate we developed from these beans is smooth, woody and earthy. It also has expressive notes that evoke autumn scents, tobacco and the local piganta fruit.
Ambolikapiky Plantation Madagascar 100% Criollo Dark Chocolate Bar
In the Sambirano Valley
Certified Organic – Located in the Sambirano Valley, near Ambanja, in the North-West of Madagascar, Bertil Åkesson’s estate spreads over about 2000 ha and is divided into smaller plantations like Ambolikapiky.
Since 1920, these farms produce world-famous aromatic cocoa and today most of the top chefs and chocolate makers around the world use cocoa from this estate. Besides 300 tons of Trinitario cocoa produced every year, a very limited quantity of Criollo beans – 2 tons per year – is harvested separately to make this chocolate. It has a very expressive cocoa aroma with subtle fruity-sweet tartness and pleasant flavor notes that evoke citrus and red berries.
Awards:
- 2017, Great Taste: GOLD 2 stars
- 2017, International Chocolate Awards, Best Bar Over 85%: SILVER
- 2016, Great Taste: GOLD 2 stars
- 2016, Academy of Chocolate: GOLD
- 2016, International Chocolate Awards, Best Bar Over 85%: SILVER
- 2015, Great Taste: GOLD 3 stars – selected in the top 50 Best Foods
- 2015, Academy of Chocolate: GOLD
- 2014, Great Taste: GOLD 1 star
- 2014, International Chocolate Awards, Best Bar over 85%: GOLD
Ambolikapiky Plantation Madagascar 75% Criollo Dark Chocolate Bar
Expressive but Unforgettable
Certified Organic – The Ambolikapiky Plantation is part of Bertil Åkesson’s 2000ha Bejofo Estate.
Located in the Sambirano Valley, in the North-West of Madagascar, the plantation produces since 1920 world-famous aromatic cocoa. Besides 300 tons per year of Madagascar Trinitario cocoa, a very limited production of Criollo cocoa (2 tons per year) is harvested separately. This chocolate has a very expressive cocoa aroma with subtle fruity-sweet tartness and pleasant flavor notes that evoke citrus and red berries.
Awards:
- 2017, International Chocolate Awards: SILVER
- 2017, Great Taste: GOLD 2 star
- 2017, Academy of Chocolate: GOLD
- 2016, Great Taste: GOLD 3 stars
- 2016, Academy of Chocolate: GOLD
- 2015, Great Taste: GOLD 3 stars – selected in the top 50 Best Foods
- 2015, Academy of Chocolate: GOLDEN BEAN,
- 2015, Academy of Chocolate: Best Dark Bar: GOLD
- 2014, Great Taste: GOLD 1star
- 2013-2014, Academy of Chocolate: Best Dark Bar: SILVER
- 2011-2012, Academy of Chocolate: Best Dark Bar: SILVER
Ambolikapiky Plantation Madagascar 75% Trinitario Dark Chocolate Bar with Voatsiperifery Pepper
Madagascar’s “Wild” Pepper
Certified Organic – Located in the Sambirano Valley, near Ambanja, in the North-West of Madagascar, Bertil Åkesson’s estate spreads over about 2000 ha and is divided into smaller plantations like Ambolikapiky.
This chocolate has a very expressive cocoa aroma with subtle fruity-sweet tartness and pleasant flavor notes that evoke citrus and red berries. We combined it with the finest and rarest pepper, the Voatsiperifery from Madagascar, whose earthy and woody taste is completed by intense flowery aromas bringing freshness to the palate.
Awards:
- 2017, Great Taste: 2 stars
- 2017, International Chocolate Awards: GOLD
- 2016, Great Taste: GOLD 3 stars – among the Top 50 Best Foods
- 2016, International Chocolate Awards, Best Flavoured Bar: GOLD
- 2016, Academy of Chocolate: GOLD
- 2015, Great Taste: GOLD 3 stars
- 2015, International Chocolate Awards: GOLD
- 2015, Academy of Chocolate, Best Flavoured Bar: GOLD
- 2014, International Chocolate Awards European: GOLD
- 2014, Academy of Chocolate, Best Flavoured Bar: GOLD
- 2013, Academy of Chocolate, Best Flavoured Bar: GOLD
- 2012, International Chocolate Awards, Best Organic Bar: GOLD
- 2012, international Chocolate Awards, Best Flavoured Bar: SILVER
Ambolikapiky Plantation Madagascar 75% Trinitario Dark Chocolate Bar with Black Pepper
Expressive but Unforgettable
Located in the Sambirano Valley, near Ambanja, in the North-West of Madagascar, Bertil Åkesson’s estate spreads over about 2000 ha and is divided into smaller plantations like this Ambolikapiky. Since 1920, these farms produce world-famous aromatic cocoa and spices. In fact, our specially selected pepper vines grow on the shade trees protecting the cocoa trees from the sun. We united these two exquisite products to make this fine spicy chocolate. In this subtle combination, the-fruity sweet tartness of the cocoa and its pleasant flavor that evoke red berries collide with warm notes of pine kernel and fresh hints of green fruits that are so characteristic of Madagascar black pepper.
Awards:
- 2017, Great Taste: 3 stars
- 2017, International Chocolate Awards: BRONZE
- 2016, Great Taste: GOLD 2 stars
- 2016, Academy of Chocolate: BRONZE
- 2016, International Chocolate Awards, Best Flavoured Bar: SILVER
- 2015, International Chocolate Awards, Best Flavoured Bar: SILVER
- 2014, Great Taste: GOLD 1 star
- 2013-14, Academy of Chocolate, Best Dark Flavoured Bar: SILVER
- 2013, International Chocolate Awards, Best Flavoured Bar: GOLD
Ambolikapiky Plantation Madagascar 75% Trinitario Dark Chocolate Bar with Pink Pepper
Madagascar’s “Wild” Pepper
Located in the Sambirano Valley, near Ambanja, in the North-West of Madagascar, Bertil Åkesson’s estate spreads over about 2000 ha and is divided into smaller plantations like this Ambolikapiky. Since 1920, these farms produce world-famous aromatic cocoa and spices (like this pink pepper) used by most of the top chefs and chocolate makers around the world. In this subtle chocolate, the fruity-sweet tartness of cocoa, its pleasant flavor notes that evoke citrus and red berries are enriched by the floral notes of our pink pepper.
Awards:
- 2017, Great Taste: 3 stars
- 2017, International Chocolate Awards: GOLD
- 2016, Great Taste: GOLD 2 stars
- 2016, Academy of Chocolate: GOLD
- 2016, International Chocolate Awards, Best Flavoured Bar: SILVER
- 2015, Great Taste: GOLD 3 stars
- 2015, Academy of Chocolate, Best Flavoured Bar: GOLD
- 2015, British International Chocolate Awards: SILVER
- 2014, Academy of Chocolate, Best Flavoured Bar: SILVER
- 2013, Academy of Chocolate, Best Flavoured Bar: SILVER
Bejofo Plantation Madagascar 43% White Chocolate Bar
Non-Deodorized & Authentic
Certified Organic – Located in the Sambirano Valley, near Ambanja, in the North- West of Madagascar, Bertil Akesson’s Bejofo Estate spreads over about 2000ha.
Since 1920, it has produced world-famous aromatic cocoa, & today most of the top chefs & chocolate makers around the world use cocoa from this estate. We use these beans to make our own cocoa butter, in Madagascar, and this white chocolate is the first single estate white chocolate. We use a high content of cocoa butter, and do not deodorize it, to render the authenticity of this ingredient.
Awards:
- 2017, International Chocolate Awards: GOLD
- 2016, Great Taste: GOLD 1 star
- 2016, Academy of Chocolate: SILVER
Fazenda Sempre Firme Brazil 75% Forastero Dark Chocolate Bar
Brazilian Paradise
In April 2009, Bertil Åkesson and his Brazilian partner Dr. Angelo Calmon de Sa, purchased the historic Fazenda Sempre Firme in Bahia, Brazil. This 120 ha cocoa plantation is right in the middle of the Mata Atlantica, the wild forest with the highest biodiversity on earth. They were able to recreate a social structure and their best reward is to hear the community referring to the Fazenda as a “Paraiso” (paradise). They are growing there the traditional and astonishing forester cocoa variety called “parasinho” that made the glory of Bahia at the beginning of the 20th century. The chocolate we developed from our beans is smooth, woody, earthy. It has also expressive notes that evoke autumn scents, tobacco and the local pitanga fruit.
Awards:
- 2017, Great Taste: 2 stars
- 2017, International Chocolate Awards: SILVER
- 2016, Great Taste: GOLD 2 stars
- 2016, Academy of Chocolate: BRONZE
- 2015, Great Taste, GOLD 1 star
- 2014, Great Taste, GOLD 3 stars
- 2012, Academy of Chocolate, Best Dark Bar: GOLD
- 2011, Academy of Chocolate, Best Dark Bar: GOLD
Fazenda Sempre Firme Brazil 55% Dark Milk Chocolate Bar
High-Cocoa Milk Chocolate
In April 2009, Bertil Akesson and his Brazilian partner Dr Angelo Calmon de Sa, purchased the historic Fazenda Sempre Firme in Bahia, Brazil. This 120ha cocoa plantation is right in the middle of the Mata Atlantica, the wild forest with the highest biodiversity on earth. They were able to recreate a social structure and their best reward is to hear the community referring to the Fazenda as a ‘Paraiso’ (paradise).
They are growing there the traditional and astonishing Forastero cocoa variety called ‘parasinho’ that made the glory of Bahia at the beginning of the 20th century.
The chocolatey notes of these beans are perfect for a high content milk chocolate.
Awards:
- 2017, Great Taste: 3 stars
- 2017, International Chocolate Awards: SILVER
- 2016, Great Taste: GOLD 1 star
- 2016, Academy of Chocolate: BRONZE
Fazenda Sempre Firme Brazil 75% Forastero Dark Chocolate Bar with Coffee Nibs
With Brazilian Bourbon Coffee
In April 2009, Bertil Åkesson and his Brazillian partner Dr. Angelo Calmon de Sa, purchased the historic Fazenda Sempre Firme in Bahia, Brazil. This 120 ha cocoa plantation is right in the middle of the Mata Atlantica, the wild forest with the highest biodiveristy on earth. They were able to recreate a social structure and their best reward is to hear the community referring to the Fazenda as a “Paraiso” (paradise). They are growing there the traditional and astonishing forastero cocoa variety called “parasinho” that made the glory of Bahia at the beginning of the 20th century. this chocolate has expressive noted that evoke wood, autumn scents, and the local pitanga fruit; a perfect match to the aromatic notes of honey, malt and maple syrup present in our Brazilian Bourbon coffee nibs.
Awards:
- 2017, International Chocolate Awards: BRONZE
- 2016, Great taste: GOLD 2 stars
- 2016, Academy of Chocolate: SILVER
- 2015, Great Taste: GOLD 3 stars – Selected in the Top 50 Best Foods
- 2015, Academy of Chocolate, Best Flavoured Dark Bar: BRONZE