Depending on the volume of cacao you are looking for there are three options.

• Sample orders up to 15kg can be purchased directly from the online store here.
• Any orders that exceed these quantities can be ordered by contacting our team.

You can also consult the quick guide to buying cacao.

You can consult our online store for the most current inventory. It is updated regularly and tracks the inventory we have available across our warehouses.

Cacao is an agricultural product and availability depends on the harvest cycle for each origin.

Our Transparency Report goes into further detail about this and you can read it here.

As always, please feel free to reach out to us with specific questions

Yes, samples of up to 15kg can be ordered to test out any of our origins.

To the learn more about each origin you can read more here.

Please note, sample stock does not always reflect our current stock for wholesale orders.

Our prices are updated monthly and are reflected in the products available from the online store.

• Sample order pricing up to 15kg is the same per kilogram across all of our origins.
• Wholesale pricing varies depending on the origin and the volume that you order.

The transparent transaction data for all of the cacao we offer is published on our website and in the annual Transparency Report.

You can read the current 2022 report here.

Yes, we are happy to reserve caca for you.

To make a reservation we need a 15% non-refundable deposit that will remain valid for 6 months. Please keep in mind that a $5 per bag per month storage fee will also be applied.

The very best way to ensure you have the inventory you need when you need it is to make a plan for the year with our team. Feel free to reach out and ask us about the process of setting up a Purchase Agreement.

If you are ordering samples or wholesale up to 8 bags (or a single pallet) you can pay right here on our website through the online store.

When placing larger wholesale orders we are happy to offer financing options after your third successful order has been placed with our team.

You can place a sample order of up to 15 kg here on the website.

One full sack of any origin is our minimum order size for wholesale.

Please keep in mind that sacks vary from 50 kgs to 70 kgs depending on the origin.

Sample orders are typically shipped via UPS or USPS.

Wholesale orders are shipped through LTL freight channels and we are happy to organize shipping within the United States and Europe.

If you have a customs broker and are located outside of these areas, we can arrange for ocean or air freight to deliver your cacao.

* Please note that all orders over 68kg (150lbs) will be shipped using a pallet(s) and the weight is added to the total for shipping. For this reason we recommend the best way to maximize your shipping cost is to order a full pallet, 8 bags.

For customers in the United States, Canada, and Europe, we ask that you allow 15 business days for delivery upon submitting payment.

Our warehouses require approximately 3 business days to prepare your shipment. Your proximity to the warehouse is the largest determiner of ship time after that. For this reason we recommend that you order from the warehouse that is closest to your shipping destination.

Shipping times vary widely for other regions, please reach out to our team for specific shipping times related to your location.

Yes, we arrange shipping within Europe and the United States.

If you are located in Canada or Mexico, and have a customs broker, our freight service can extend to you as well.

Please note customers outside of the North America and Europe need to provide Uncommon with the full list of documents. You can consult your customs broker for this list.

**Uncommon is not responsible for any shipping liabilities if the documents requested are not correct.

Yes, we arrange shipping within Europe and the United States.

If you are located in Canada or Mexico, and have a customs broker, our freight service can extend to you as well.

Please note customers outside of the North America and Europe need to provide Uncommon with the full list of documents. You can consult your customs broker for this list.

**Uncommon is not responsible for any shipping liabilities if the documents requested are not correct.

Yes, you can certainly arrange your own shipping.

Arranging your own shipping requires you to create an account with your preferred shipper and handle all coordination between the warehouse and your shipper of choice.

As always, we are happy to answer any questions you may have.

Yes, we do ship internationally.

For orders within the USA and Europe we work with an LTL service to deliver all wholesale orders. Sample orders are typically shipped using UPS, USPS, or DHL.

If you are ordering outside of these areas please confirm with your customs broker which documents your country requires to import cacao. Once you can provide us with this list of documents and the contact information of your broker, we will send you additional shipping information and arrange delivery.

**Please note that Uncommon is not responsible for any shipping liabilities if the documents requested are not correct.

Uncommon Cacao strives to deliver excellent customer service throughout the entire cacao sourcing process.

We work with partner companies to facilitate the transport of cacao beans from suppliers into the warehouse, to store the cacao in one of three warehouses, and then to transport them from the warehouse to you.

It is of utmost importance to us that we work closely with these partners to provide customer service to you, unfortunately sometimes issues arise.

The following protocol is helpful in resolving any issues as quickly as possible.

Examples of potential damage:

(1) There are rips in the sack

(2) The carrier delivers the beans improperly

(3) The cacao has gotten wet or damaged in some way

Once an issue is identified, please take these initial steps:

(1) First make sure to take photos of the delivery.

(2) Next, clearly indicate on the driver's receipt the extent of any damage that has taken place.

(3) Then notify us immediately of the situation so we can start a claims process with our partners.

We have four warehouses where all Uncommon beans are stored.

Our New Jersey and Oakland warehouses store all beans shipping to the US, Canada, and Mexico.

Our Colorado warehouse stores inventory for sample orders shipping to the US, Canada and Mexico.

Our Amsterdam warehouse stores our beans shipping samples and wholesale orders to the UK and EU.

If you are ordering outside of these regions, we will evaluate the best warehouse to ship from, please reach out with any questions or concerns about your specific area.

Cool and dry storage is key. This prevents flavor degradation and mold growth, and keeps insects from maturing and damaging cacao.

Airtight or vacuum-sealed bags/boxes are advisable to keep beans dry.

Cacao beans are subject to becoming rancid and over-fermenting when stored in temperatures greater than 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

Unroasted cacao beans will last for up to a 5 years in polythene-lined burlap bags when stored in a cool, dry location, such as a pantry with an ambient humidity level of less than 70%.

Cacao tends to absorb the surrounding aromas and flavors; store separately from other fragrant products.

Cacao is an agricultural product and a raw ingredient. It is not recommended for human consumption before proper treatment.

Cacao is harvested, fermented, dried, hand-stored, packaged and transported in non-sterilized environments.

Uncommon Cacao’s supply chain does it’s best to promote best practices in post harvest facilities and in the warehouse.

We test all of the origins we work with each year for cadmium and lead. Additionally we test every container for pathogens like salmonella and E.coli.

Please let us know if you would like the specific lab analysis that applies to your order, we are happy to share it with you.

The cacao moth is scientifically known as EPHESTIA ELUTELLA. It has a symbiotic relationship with cacao and is very common.

Moths develop from eggs to larva to moth and then live for 14 days. After these two weeks of feeding and making webs, the larvae pupate. When temperatures are good, around 25° Celsius, the pupae will turn into moths, and the cycle will start all over again.

Why are they in my cacao?

• Storage conditions and/or it is endemic to the country of origin

How do I get rid of them?

• Verify that your cacao is stored in a cool place
• Try flash freezing or refrigerating your cacao
• Deprive moths and larvae of oxygen via airtight seals
• Purchase pheromone traps to prevent more eggs
• Renew your stock regularly
• When all else fails, chemical fumigation

Uncommon Cacao is Fair Trade Certified.

Our Transparent Trade model works in tandem with the Fair Trade certification. We want to ensure that the costs of the certification itself, to the supplier, can be covered, as well as increasing income for individual smallholder farmers.

All of the cacao we offer is Transparently Traded, please refer to the individual product pages to confirm if the cacao you are interested in is also Fair Trade Certified.

Uncommon Cacao is Organic Certified.

Please refer to the individual product pages to conform if the cacao you are interested in also carries an Organic Certification in addition to being Transparently Traded.

"Beyond the inherent concept of fair pricing, and from the very beginning of its creation, Fair for Life has been aware of the notion of "responsible supply chains": having a long-term vision, making a sincere commitment and acting responsibly throughout the supply chain."

Please review individual product pages to confirm if the cacao you are interested in working with carries this certification in addition to being Transparently Traded.