Vosges Haut-Chocolat, in collaboration with Weiss and Valcaco, the association of Martinican cacao producers, is debuting the Island of Flowers: Martinique Cacao Library, a limited three-bar collection crafted with Grand Cru Martinique 50% cacao. 

Launching exclusively in a three-bar library format, the collection is available at vosgeschocolate.com and select Vosges retail locations beginning today. Bars will not be sold separately. 

Timed ahead of International Women’s Day (March 8), the release highlights women’s leadership in cacao cultivation and the importance of equity within the agricultural sector. 

The three-bar library explores Martinique cacao through distinct expressions, according to Vosges: 

• Pure: Grand Cru Martinique 50%, highlighting floral brightness and volcanic minerality.
• Spice: Layered with allspice and coconut, reflecting the island’s culinary warmth.
• Crunch: Textured with Madagascan vanilla and nougatine, introducing contrast and aromatic sweetness. 

Created as Volume 1 of Vosges’ Cacao Origins exploration, the format invites consumers to experience cacao as a study in place—shaped by soil, climate, and careful stewardship. 

A collaboration rooted in origin

The Island of Flowers library reflects a deliberate partnership, the brand says: cacao cultivated in Martinique by Valcaco’s 50-farmer association, crafted into chocolate with Weiss’ technical expertise, and presented through Vosges Haut-Chocolat’s Cacao Origins exploration. 

Martinique’s volcanic soils and diverse microclimates shape cacao with remarkable nuance, the brand adds. Farms separated by mere meters—one receiving afternoon sun, another morning light near a river—produce beans with distinct variations in floral aromatics, fruit undertones, and mineral depth. These environmental subtleties define the island’s signature flavor profile, Vosges notes.

The decision to produce the chocolate as a 50% dark milk format was intentional. Martinique cacao reportedly carries bold structure and expressive cocoa notes. The dark milk style preserves its intensity while aiming to offer balance and approachability, bridging the depth of dark chocolate with the smoothness of milk. 

For more than 140 years, Weiss has upheld the excellence of French chocolate-making in Saint-Étienne, crafting couvertures designed by and for chefs and artisans, it says. From bean to bar, Weiss produces chocolate using ethically and responsibly sourced cocoa, combining traditional techniques with creative innovation. Drawing on this heritage, Weiss developed Grand Cru Martinique 50%—a couverture that bridges milk and dark chocolate, blending distinctive Martinique beans with sugar and milk from France. 

Leadership and revival

Valcaco was formally established in 2015 under the leadership of agronomist and entrepreneur Kora Bernabé, who serves as the association's president. 

Beginning in 2010, farmers across the island identified approximately 200 surviving cacao trees representing eight varieties. Over centuries, natural crossbreeding created a distinct DNA signature unique to Martinique cacao. Through improved fermentation practices, shared quality standards, and coordinated cultivation, production has grown to several tons annually, with harvests occurring in both spring and fall. 

“Our work is rooted in respect for the land and for the farmers who cultivate it,” says Bernabé. “We are rebuilding Martinique cacao with intention—honoring our heritage while creating long-term sustainability.” 

The proximity of this launch to International Women’s Day aims to underscore the broader impact of women’s leadership within agriculture and professional spheres—values reflected across this collaboration. 

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