Chocolate Pairings that Grow Together - Fruit from Origin

At Cocoa Future Collaborative, we believe the best pairings don’t begin in a recipe - they begin in the soil. The phrase "what grows together, goes together" isn't just a catchy food philosophy for pairing food and wine; it's a window into deeper ecological intelligence and cultural wisdom that is 100% true for chocolate too. When we listen to nature and to the communities who live in close relationship with it, we discover flavor pairings that are not only irresistible but also regenerative, seasonal, and deeply rooted in place.

Nature’s Design: A Blueprint for Flavor Harmony

In cacao-growing regions worldwide, cacao trees often share their forest canopy with fruit trees, nut trees, spice plants, and ornamental flora. These species don’t just coexist; they collaborate for life. Their roots intertwine, their canopies offer shade, and their life cycles support the same pollinators and soil systems. This natural diversity also creates some of the most naturally harmonious and delicious pairings with chocolate.

 

Fruits: Nature’s Sweet and Tangy Counterpoint

Why Fruit and Chocolate Work Together

Fruits and cacao often share the same tropical landscapes, supporting each other’s growth and the communities that tend them. When paired, their flavors echo the biodiversity of the rainforest—bright acidity, lush sweetness, and a spectrum of aromas that elevate and balance cacao’s rich complexity. These combinations are more than delicious; they’re a celebration of terroir and a boost for local economies.

Tropical Fruits with Texture and Tang 

Mango

Chocolates like AWKI Cognitive Chocolates Serenity Bar or Cardenas Mango 72% from Ecuador, 20/20 Chocolate Green Mango & Salt from Venezuela, One One Cacao Spicy Mango 61% from Jamaica, Bon Fiction The Mango Menace 55% from India, and Siamaya Chocolate Mango Chili Dark Chocolate from Thailand all showcase the variety of global culinary traditions centered around mango. From green mango’s bright acidity and penchant for pairing with chili to the ripe, floral qualities that contrast chocolate’s deep notes, chocolate and mango are a pairing that brings out the best in both.

Passion Fruit

Baiani Dark Chocolate w/ Passionfruit Crunch 65% and Luisa Abram White Chocolate and Passion Fruit from Brazil, Argencove 70% Dark Chocolate with Passion Fruit from Nicaragua, along with AWKI Cognitive Chocolate’s Intimacy Bar, Conexión Passion Fruit 66%, and Mashpi Passionfruit & Pepper Chocolate from Ecuador highlight passion fruit’s vibrant acidity and perfume along with a seedy crunch that balances cacao’s smooth, velvety texture.

Pineapple

Conexión Pineapple & Pink Salt 70% from Ecuador, Yojoa’s 70% Pineapple and Mango Dark Chocolate Bar from Honduras, and Belize Chocolate Company’s 70% Dark Chocolate with Pineapple conjure a beachy tropical paradise, echoing the fruits that often grow alongside cacao.

Banana

Whether you love your bananas sweet like Ecuadorian Conexión Crunchy Banana 66% and Argencove’s Banana, Cinnamon, and Clove 70% from Nicaragua or more savory like Filipino Theo & Philo Dark Chocolate w/ Green Banana Chips & Salt, both offer a classic pairing, with banana’s mellow fruit flavors enhancing the creaminess of cacao’s depth.

Guava

Manoa Kuawa x Guava Chocolate Bar captures the sweet-tart essence of Hawaii’s most prolific wild fruit, pairing beautifully with chocolate’s richness.

Sweet & Tart Citrus Fruits

Candied Orange, Peel & Zest

A classic pairing, chocolate and orange never disappoint. Mission Chocolate Candied Orange Peel 70%, Baiani Dark Chocolate Orange Zest 70% in Brazil, Belú Orange 70% in El Salvador, and Diego’s Orange Dark Chocolate in Guatemala use locally grown oranges to infuse chocolate with vibrant citrus aromas. INARU 67% Orange & Fennel Dark Chocolate adds a subtle earthy note to orange’s pop of fruity acidity.

Luscious Local Citrus Pairings

Marou Ba Ria Ginger Lime 69% pairs locally-grown citrus and ginger with Ba Ria origin cacao for a uniquely Vietnamese chocolate treat. Marou Tien Giang Kumquat 68% features a uniquely tangy Vietnamese citrus that highlights the chocolate’s natural acidity. Aromaz Chocolate Sabor a Naranjilla Lulo bar from Ecuador uses this tart Andean fruit to add a green, citrusy lift to rich chocolate. And Mashpi Chocolate in Ecuador features its very own farm’s “Golden Lime” both in its Calamondin Chocolate Bar and unsweetened Calamondin Cacao powder.

 

 

The More Familiar Fruits…

Strawberry

A common pairing in the global north, it’s rare to find strawberries nestled near cacao farms. Nonetheless, when they are, the combination is magical. We enjoy Pridi Cacaofevier’s 64% Berry Much! rendition.

 

Avocado

In Indonesia, cacao and avocado grow on the same farms and are a popular combination for smoothies and desserts. For a vegan treat that can easily be replicated worldwide, try this remarkably rich and creamy avocado chocolate mousse recipe.

 

 

The Less Ubiquitous, Uniquely Local Fruits 

Açaí

Luisa Abram White Chocolate with Açaí Berry honors the Brazilian Amazonian roots of both ingredients, with açaí’s berry notes and cultural significance shining through.

 

 

Brunei Cherry

Brought over to Ecuador from Southeast Asia, the fruit for Mashpi Brunei Cherry 65% Dark Chocolate is grown on their farm, mimicking a tropical version of chocolate-covered cherries.

 

Cupuaçu

A cousin to cacao, cupuaçu grows abundantly in the Amazon. Try Mission Chocolate Cupuaçu 72%, Luisa Abram Dark Chocolate with Cupuaçu, or Luisa Abram Cupuaçu Dragees for the creamy, tangy notes of this iconic Brazilian fruit. The synergy between cupuaçu and cacao is rooted in their shared genetics and Amazonian habitat.

 

Durian

If you’ve never had a chance to try this notorious Southeast Asian fruit, it doesn’t get better than Siamaya’s Durian Milk Chocolate from Thailand. It has a delightfully floral, tropical fruit flavor and durian's signature mildly sharp finish.

 

 

Guayabilla

Also known as Sundrop, Mashpi Guayabilla Chocolate Bar features indigenous fruit exclusive to the Andean region of Ecuador where Mashpi resides. This bar boasts a highly aromatic profile with a hint of acidity.

 

Chocolate-Covered Exotic Fruits

As a perpetual grazer, I am always on the hunt for satisfying snacks. Mashpi Chocolate Salak (Snake Fruit) Bites and Conexión Chocolate-Covered Golden Berries let you taste tropical fruits enrobed in chocolate, a treat that bridges continents and seasons.

 

Tasting Terroir: The Future of Chocolate Pairings

As we look to the future of chocolate, the most exciting flavors will come from honoring the places and people that nurture cacao and its companion fruits. By choosing pairings rooted in origin, we deepen our connection to the land and to each other. So next time you indulge, let your chocolate tell the story of its home—and savor the sweet, tangy, and complex notes that only nature’s own pairings can provide.

 

For Ease of Shopping

You'll find several of the products and brands tagged above at the following retail partners.

Bar & Cocoa -

• 20/20 Chocolate Green Mango & Salt from Venezuela
• Baiani Dark Chocolate Orange Zest 70%
• Baiani Dark Chocolate w/ Passionfruit Crunch 65%
• Luisa Abram Dark Chocolate with Cupuaçu
• Luisa Abram White Chocolate with Açaí Berry
• Marou Ba Ria Ginger Lime 69%
• Marou Tien Giang Kumquat 68%
• Mission Chocolate Candied Orange Peel 70%
• Mission Chocolate Cupuaçu 72%
• Theo & Philo Dark Chocolate w/ Green Banana Chips & Salt

Seek Chocolate Shop - 

• AWKI Cognitive Chocolate’s Intimacy Bar
• AWKI Cognitive Chocolates Serenity Bar
• Manoa Kuawa & Guava Milk 50%
• Marou Ba Ria Ginger Lime 69%
• Marou Tien Giang Kumquat 68%
• Mashpi Brunei Cherry 65% Dark Chocolate
• Mashpi Calamondin Chocolate Bar 
• Mashpi Guayabilla Chocolate Bar
• Mashpi Passionfruit & Pepper Chocolate
• Mashpi Chocolate Salak (Snake Fruit) Bites

Caputo's - 

• Luisa Abram Cupuaçu Dragees
• Luisa Abram Dark Chocolate with Cupuaçu
• Luisa Abram White Chocolate with Açaí Berry 
• Luisa Abram White Chocolate and Passion Fruit
• Manoa Kuawa x Guava Chocolate Bar
• Marou Ba Ria Ginger Lime 69%
• Marou Tien Giang Kumquat 68%

The Chocolate Dispensary - 

• Cardenas Mango 72%
• Manoa Kuawa & Guava Milk 50%
• Mission Chocolate Candied Orange Peel 70%
• Mission Chocolate Cupuaçu 72%
• Theo & Philo Dark Chocolate w/ Green Banana Chips & Salt

Yahara Chocolate & Tea - 

• Cardenas Mango 72%
• Marou Tien Giang Kumquat 68%
• Manoa Kuawa & Guava Milk 50%

Choiba Agroforestry Products - 

• Mashpi Brunei Cherry 65% Dark Chocolate
• Mashpi Calamondin Chocolate Bar 
• Mashpi Unsweetened Calamondin Cacao Powder
• Mashpi Guayabilla Chocolate Bar
• Mashpi Passionfruit & Pepper Chocolate
• Mashpi Chocolate Salak (Snake Fruit) Bites

 

The Journey Continues

Stay tuned for the next two blogs in this three-part series on, "What Grows Together Goes Together."