Puratos, a global leader in bakery, patisserie, and chocolate ingredients, announced that it will soon launch the world’s first chocolate product for professionals made with cultured cocoa. This product will be available to Puratos customers in the U.S. by the end of 2026. Puratos is the first company to bring this new innovation to market.
Puratos has invested early in cultured cocoa technology through its foodtech venture arm, Sparkalis. This reflects the company’s focus towards innovation and science-driven solutions. By supporting the development of cultured cocoa, Puratos targets to improve chocolate while also complementing traditional cocoa farming.
The new product is being developed with California Cultured, a leader in cultured cocoa. The two companies are working together to create a product that meets professionals’ needs for taste, quality, consistency, and performance.
Puratos believes that cultured cocoa can be a sustainable alternative to conventional cocoa farming, particularly with climate change impacting supply. This step can aid in ensuring better quality as well as a more reliable supply, supporting the chocolate industry and cocoa farmers. Puratos’ Cacao-Trace program indicates the company’s commitment to positive revolution in the cocoa industry.
The new chocolate will be crafted with the company’s deep knowledge of chocolate flavor and sensory science, ensuring that the product delivers on taste and sustainability without any compromises.
Executive Statement
According to Jaina Wald, Vice President Marketing & Digital, Puratos USA, for Puratos USA, this announcement reflects their commitment to supporting American chocolate professionals with forward-looking solutions. The US market plays a central role in food innovation, and they are proud to help bring new technologies like cultured cocoa closer to commercial reality here.
According to Alan Perlstein, Chief Executive Officer at California Cultured, what matters to chocolate makers is simple. They need an ingredient that behaves like cocoa, tastes like cocoa, and shows up when they need it. This partnership with Puratos moves cultured cocoa from a scientific proof into a dependable commercial ingredient that manufacturers can actually plan around.