It’s being described as a breakthrough for Trinidad and Tobago’s agricultural sector – more specifically T&T’s fine‑flavour cocoa.
On Tuesday, the government officially unveiled the “Trinitario Cocoa Certification Trademark” – a formal, internationally recognised mark designed to protect and promote T&T’s signature cocoa variety, guarantee quality, and potentially unlock premium prices for local farmers.
Minister of Land and Legal Affairs Saddam Hosein said the new mark represents what farmers have long said: that cocoa is more valuable than most people realise.
“One tonne of steel in Trinidad and Tobago during COVID was ranging about 12 to $13,000 per tonne of steel for construction. One tonne of cocoa, at that time, fine flavour cocoa, was ranging between 10 to 12,000 US dollars per tonne. We are sitting on a gold mine and it is incumbent on this government to protect that gold mine that we have right here.”
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Ravi Ratiram said the certification gives it the protection, and now enhanced leverage.
“It sends an unmistakable signal to global buyers, to investors and premium chocolate makers that Trinitario cocoa sourced from Trinidad and Tobago is authenticated, protected and globally competitive. So for our farmers, the custodians of our cocoa legacy, this trademark is tangible value creation at the ground level. It strengthens your negotiating position with value chains.”
One of the biggest boosts will come from Angostura. Minister Hosein said its Angostura Cocoa Bitters line will now carry the new certification mark on every bottle distributed worldwide.
“This certification mark, and I’m letting the cat out of the bag now, will adorn the stem of the Angostura Cocoa Bitters, replacing the old version. And the market is already in place with Angostura Bitters in multiple markets across the world, including Walmart, I’m told.”
A UWI-designed QR system will allow buyers anywhere to trace their cocoa back to the very soil it came from.
Minister Hosein said the Certification Trademark was the first step toward securing a full Geographical Indication (GI) for the Trinitario cocoa.
“It’s a geographical indication. It’s a mark used to identify goods coming from a specific geographical area with a unique quality, reputation, or characteristic, which is essentially attributable to the geographical area.”
The Minister said he’s advised that the EU Intellectual Property Office is offering technical assistance to Trinidad and Tobago to establish Trinidad and Tobago Trinitario cocoa as a geographical indication.