Puratos to launch world’s first professional chocolate with Cultured Cocoa in 2026
New product aims to deliver climate-independent cocoa supply for US chocolate professionals.
BELGIUM – Puratos has announced plans to introduce what it describes as the world’s first chocolate product for professionals containing cultured cocoa, marking a new step in the commercialization of alternative cocoa technologies.
The product is expected to become fully commercially available to Puratos customers in the United States toward the end of 2026. The company said the launch represents a significant milestone in bringing cultured cocoa from research and development into practical, industrial-scale use.
Developed in collaboration with California Cultured, the product is designed specifically for professional chocolate makers and food brands seeking reliable supply, consistent performance and clearly defined sensory standards.
Through its foodtech venture arm, Sparkalis, Puratos has been an early investor in cultured cocoa technology, supporting its progress from laboratory research to commercial readiness.
Alan Perlstein, Chief Executive Officer of California Cultured, said the partnership is focused on meeting practical industry needs.
“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,” he said.
According to the companies, the collaboration aims to translate cultured cocoa innovation into a product that meets expectations for taste, quality, consistency and industrial functionality.
Puratos stated that cultured cocoa can serve as a climate-independent complement to conventional cocoa farming systems, potentially supporting more consistent supply and quality amid climate-related production challenges.
Jaina Wald, Vice President Marketing & Digital at Puratos USA, said: “For Puratos USA, this announcement reflects our commitment to supporting American chocolate professionals with forward-looking solutions. The US market plays a central role in food innovation, and we are proud to help bring new technologies like cultured cocoa closer to commercial reality here.”
Puratos added that the initiative aligns with its Cacao-Trace programme, which focuses on improving farmer livelihoods and product quality across the cocoa value chain.
Youri Dumont, Director Chocolate Strategic Business Unit at Puratos, said: “The future of the chocolate industry depends on our ability to innovate responsibly. Through programs like Cacao-Trace, we have shown that improving farmer livelihoods, product quality, and sustainability can go hand in hand, and we remain committed to cocoa farmers with the ambition to double our Chocolate Bonus and Quality Premium by 2030.”
Founded in 2020 by Perlstein and COO Harrison Yoon, California Cultured produces cell-based cocoa ingredients by cultivating samples from cocoa plants with ideal organoleptic properties in controlled fermentation systems designed to replicate rainforest conditions.
Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.
