Founded by cousins Juan Pablo and Christian Vélez in the traditional cacao-growing region of Antioquia, near the town of Maceo, Hacienda Betulia stands as a symbol of innovation and excellence in Colombian cacao. Nestled in a beautiful landscape to the east of Medellín, the plantation combines heritage with forward-thinking practices.

Guided by a clear vision, the Hacienda set out to cultivate an organic Colombian Criollo cacao of rare complexity, rich in aroma, full of character, yet free from the typical bitterness of other varieties. The result is a pure, single-variety cacao with exceptional flavor and no measurable traces of cadmium or lead.

Hacienda Betulia holds the distinction of being the first BAP (Best Agricultural Practices) certified cocoa plantation in Antioquia. In 2018, it was recognized as the most innovative cacao farm in Colombia by the Federación Nacional de Cacaoteros.

Just as Colombia is renowned worldwide for its exceptional coffee, its Criollo cacao is now emerging as one of the most prized origins. Hacienda Betulia proudly contributes to this legacy, adding a new chapter to the story of South America’s most exquisite cacaos.

Hacienda Betulia is dedicated to cultivating three rare and exceptional Criollo varieties: B6, B8, and B9.

Renowned for their highly complex and unique flavor profiles, these Premium Criollos inspire the creation of exclusive specialty products. Each variant offers an exquisite cacao experience, with refined fruit notes and layered aromas.

At The Belgian Chocolate Makers, we are proud to work directly with Hacienda Betulia and use their B6 variety to craft some of our most distinctive chocolate bars. This Criollo brings a delicate balance of richness and fruitiness, resulting in a smooth yet complex flavor that our clients truly appreciate.

All three “Betulias” have been carefully tasted and evaluated by leading Maîtres Chocolatiers, who confirm their outstanding quality. These exceptional cacaos are sought after by top chocolatiers worldwide to create premium, nuanced chocolate.

Given their rarity, only small, strictly controlled quantities of B6, B8, and B9 are available each year, making them as exclusive as they are exceptional.

At Hacienda Betulia, beyond the cacao trees, lies a hidden treasure: a 30-hectare native forest reserve where Colombian nature still breathes in its purest form.

Step inside and you enter a world alive with sound and movement; frogs calling from the undergrowth, delicate insects shimmering in the light, birds darting between branches, and small mammals rustling unseen. Even the forest’s more formidable guardians, from snakes to scorpions, remind us that this is a place ruled by nature itself.

Here, no tree is felled, no soil disturbed. The forest is left untouched, a sanctuary protected from agriculture and commerce alike. It stands as a promise, that in Betulia, the land gives not only cacao, but also a glimpse of Colombia’s wild soul, preserved for generations to come.

With less than 1% of the world’s land, Colombia shelters nearly 15% of all global biodiversity, making it, per square kilometer, the most biodiverse country on Earth. From the snow-capped Andes to the lush Amazon basin, every change in altitude, climate, and water system has given rise to a dazzling variety of life. Mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and countless plants coexist in one of the richest tapestries of nature ever known.

Nearly half of Colombia remains covered by forest, much of it stretching in vast, continuous expanses. The Amazon, still the largest and wildest region of the country, preserves immense tracts of rainforest, even as agriculture slowly pushes its frontier. Along the Pacific, the Chocó forest, the wettest and most biologically diverse forest on the planet, harbors jaguars, spectacled bears, and the world’s highest concentration of endemic birds and orchids. Here, new species are discovered every year, reminding us that Colombia’s natural story is still being written.

Yet this richness is fragile. Since the early 1900s, Colombia has witnessed massive deforestation. Roads carved through wilderness, farms expanded across fertile lowlands, and mechanized agriculture reshaped landscapes that had thrived untouched for millennia. More recently, global markets and rural migration have left abandoned lands degraded, their soil exhausted.

But hope remains. Awareness of the vital role forests play in sustaining life has grown stronger than ever. Across Colombia, conservation efforts and reforestation projects are rising, offering a chance to safeguard the country’s wild heart for generations to come.