Nacional Cacao Became Luxury Chocolate

In 2011, researchers rediscovered ancient Nacional cacao chocolate DNA in Peru after diseases had seemingly wiped out the prized variety in the early 20th century. In 2013, two men co-founded To'ak Chocolate and helped search for surviving old-growth Nacional trees in Ecuador. DNA testing of 47 trees revealed nine that were 100 percent pure ancient Nacional chocolate. To'ak later became famous for producing some of the world's most expensive chocolate, including a 1.76-ounce bar priced at $490.

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