The Pioneers of Chuncho Blanco

TECHNICAL SPECS:

• Producer: Pumatiy Family (Finca El Mirador)
• Location: Koribeni, Echarati, Cusco
• Genetics: Chuncho Especial (Native Chuncho Blanco)
• Fermentation: 4-5 day artisanal fermentation in local wood boxes with specific aeration
• Farm size: Family-managed ancestral forest plots
• Altitude: 1000 – 1400 MSL
• Website: PUMATIY CACAO
• Identity: The Pioneers of Chuncho Blanco / Multi-generational Heritage
• Themes: Mastery, ancestral knowledge, and award-winning precision

About the Pumatiy Family: In the lush, cloud-shrouded valleys of Echarati, the Pumatiy family has spent three decades refining the art of the harvest. While the world is only recently discovering the magic of the "Chuncho" bean, the Pumatiy family has been its guardian since 1996. Their work is a masterclass in how generational knowledge can preserve the most delicate genetics on Earth.

The Koribeni region is a high-altitude "cloud forest" environment that places unique demands on the cacao tree. In response, the native trees have evolved to produce tiny, nutrient-dense beans with an exceptionally high natural fat content (often exceeding 58%). This biological quirk is what gives the family's cacao its signature "silk-like" mouthfeel.

For the Pumatiy family, farming is an act of quiet mastery. They focus on the Chuncho Blanco—a rare mutation of the native Cusco cacao that produces white seeds. These beans are prized for their lack of bitterness and their intense floral sweetness. By winning multiple gold medals for "Best Chuncho Blanco" in Peru, the family has proven that their traditional methods are not just heritage—they are the gold standard for quality. Partnering with the Pumatiy family allows Lucid to showcase the very best of the Urubamba Valley, where every bean represents a thirty-year legacy of excellence.

Origins we buy:

• Chuncho Especial: This is a meticulously sorted harvest consisting primarily of the rare white-seeded Chuncho. Because these beans are significantly smaller than industrial hybrids, they possess a concentrated sweetness and a delicate profile of white flowers and wild honey. It is a bean that requires a gentle touch in the roaster to preserve its volatile aromatics.
• Microlot Blanco: From time to time, we source specific single-harvest lots that highlight the peak of the family's fermentation skills. These lots are selected for their incredible creaminess and are reserved for our most exclusive, high-percentage bars.

Products we make:

• CHUNCHO ESPECIAL 70%
• CHUNCHO BLANCO 80% (Limited Edition)
• HONEY & CHUNCHO 72% (Lucid Labs)