Merasa Village, Organically Cultivating Quality Cocoa and Conserving its Natural Beauty

Pipiltin Cocoa officially launches the latest collection from the Indonesia edition, Merasa Village 74%. Merasa Village is one of the existing village names in Kelay District, Berau Regency, East Kalimantan. This chocolate launch is one of the efforts to support local Indonesian products that focus on the preservation of Indonesian flora and fauna, farmer's welfare, and Merasa Village ecotourism.

The name Merasa Village on the single origin chocolate product, is a form of appreciation from us to the extraordinary spirit of the native village farmers. "Like the others, the name Merasa remains because our own village has been a tourism village, we were called upon as of one of the orders at a national level, the name of many provincial government districts and also supported our ICS (Internal Control System) friends. Thus, we support, and asked to keep the name Merasa Village," said Mr. Antonius, representatives of the native farmers of Merasa Village.

With the support from the native farmers of Merasa Village, Pipiltin Cocoa is the first brand to go directly to the farmers and use Merasa Village as the name for the amazing chocolate product. The enthusiasm of the Village Cocoa Farmers should also be appreciated since gaining the inclusion of “Organic Cocoa Beans at Merasa Village passing at the top 8 level of Indonesia selection for Cacao Excellent Award at the Paris Salon du Chocolat” it is an honor for the native Merasa Village farmers. continue to cultivate organic cocoa. Agung Widiastuti, Director of Kalimajari Foundation said, “The cocoa farmers at Merasa Village up to now, are still maintaining organic cultivation processes, eliminate the use of pesticides and strengthening the fermentation process as an effort to add value to cocoa bean. "Empowerment of the role of women farmers in building equality, becomes an important role in the implementation of the program. This is one of the commitments from Kalimajari to strengthen the participation of farmers in protecting the environment and ensuring that this cocoa is produced by applying the basic principles of sustainable products.”

The activity of cultivating cocoa is also a source of livelihood which aims the community to be more focused on cultivating their cocoa plantation without having to depend on the forest, these activities at the same time maintain the sustainability of pristine forests and orangutan habitats. The Dayak Kenyah tribe is one of the existing Dayak tribes in Merasa Village. “Starting from the awareness that community participation is the key success to development, Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN) for the last ten years has supported by strengthening the capacity of villagers in the framework of green development through the SIGAP approach (Inspiring Community Action for Change). Together with the Government Berau Regency and the Kalimajari Foundation, YKAN has facilitated farmers assistance in order to ensure the readiness and capacity of farmers in managing cocoa plantations in a sustainable manner. “YKAN supports the development of sustainable products, including cocoa, as an incentive for communities living along sidethe banks of forest to carry out conservation practices. We have big hopes that people can live happily even living amidst pristine forests, “said YKAN Executive Director Herlina Hartanto at the same time.

This 74% Merasa Village Chocolate is planted alongside the banks of the Kelay river and is surrounded directly by forest. Associated with high conservation forest, Merasa Village is one of the areas in which located Bawaan Island which is used for pre-releases of Orangutans named Nigel and Hercules. “The Bawaan Island located at Merasa Village is where we train orangutans to survive before being fully released. While on the island, orangutans will learn to forage and live without Depending on humans. Since 2015, there have been dozens of orangutans living in Bawaan Island. Currently there are 2 individuals on the island, namely Nigel and Hercules. Both of them, observed to show good behavior ready to be released in February 2022,” said Mrs. Indira Nurul Qomariah, representative of The Center for Orangutan Protection (COP).

Not only cacao beans, Dayak tribes and Orangutans, Merasa Village is also known for their Merasa Tourist Attractions, including: River Walk, Jungle Trek, Karst Mountain, Natural Pond, Batu Bawan, Wooden Burial Site (Lungun) of the Dayak tribe, Big Mouth Cave and Relic Cave Heritage from other Dayak tribes. Iben Yuzenho, Founder of Sebumi said that the uniqueness of tourism in Merasa Village is not solely due to its natural beauty, but because of the people in Merasa Village has developed a conservation-based ecotourism concept. This means that the economic benefits of forest and nature for the community are intertwined through ecotourism activities that goes hand in hand with the interest to protect and care for it sustainably.

The distinctive taste characteristics of Merasa Village chocolate are honey and citrus originally produced from cocoa beans that have been fermented by the native farmers of Merasa Village. Not only taste, this chocolate packaging design is also our collaboration with a designer from Berlin, Cachete Jack. By collaborating with Cachete Jack, we hope the Merasa Village chocolate are known not only domestically but also abroad with the Merasa Village packaging design on the profile. There is a picture of a hornbill on the Merasa Village chocolate product packaging symbolizing the bird that is a main characteristic in the Dayak tribe traditional hat, which accentuates leadership in protecting its people. These hornbills also sow seeds in the air for forest regeneration, which by their presence indicates that the forest is still in pristine conditions.

“It is important for Pipiltin Cocoa to aspire to be the best buyer of quality cocoa producers”, says Irvan Helmi, co-founder of Pipiltin Cocoa. “This is the essence of Pipiltin Cocoa's journey: distinctive taste in each region, high quality, sustainable and inclusive”, continued Tissa Aunilla, founder of Pipiltin Cocoa. Inclusiveness becomes very important, because by linking the chain between upstream and downstream, the chain suppliers are protected and all parties benefit: farmers become more confident because of their local name is written on the package, and the end consumer can know exactly who the farmer is.

Merasa Village Dark Chocolate Bar 74% East Kalimantan, Indonesia is available exclusively on the official Tokopedia market place, Shopee, WA Business Pipiltin Cocoa at a price of IDR 56,000. 

Grab limited edition packaged products:

• Dark Chocolate Bar Kampung Merasa 74% East Kalimantan, Indonesia 80gr