25 Jan 2023
Tomé Açu is sometimes called terra da pimenta - land of pepper. That is because the municipality in Brazil's northern state of Pará has a long tradition growing black peppercorn. But when Julie Droux, a French biotech engineer working for Clariant, recently visited the region, she was interested in a different crop. Cupuaçu is an indigenous fruit found throughout the Amazon basin. The plant is closely related to cacao and is particularly popular in Brazil, where it is mainly cultivated for its silky pulp to use in drinks, sweets, and even ice cream. "Cupuaçu is one of the many natural riches found particularly in this region, "explains Droux. "More importantly, its production here in Tomé Açu is a prime example of sustainable sourcing practices."