Updated January 2025

Most countries that grow cocoa are countries where both child labour and slavery are unfortunately used in agriculture. In general, Just Kai encourages people to always look for reliable certifications before buying any product made with cocoa. We do, however, know of one exception: cocoa grown in Samoa. Grateful thanks to Lani Young for drawing our attention to this!

yellow cocoa pods ripening on a branch under a canopy of leaves

image credit

Samoa is a country where human rights are generally well respected. Child labour is not unknown, but children appear to be employed exclusively in the retail sector (especially as street vendors). No children are known to be either employed or forced to work in agriculture.*

* This is according to the International Labour Organisation definition of child labour. Children certainly do help out on family farms outside of school hours, but children aren’t engaged in work that interferes with either their schooling or the health and physical development.

Forced labour also seems unknown in the local agriculture industry. The Global Slavery Index hasn’t yet released their findings on Samoa, but the International Labour Organisation’s latest report on Samoa doesn’t express any concerns in this area, nor does anyone else as far as we can tell.

Samoa has a long history of cocoa growing. Cocoa beans were first brought to the country in the 1880s and Samoa was soon exporting cocoa. The industry peaked in the 1960s then took a downturn in the 1970s. Samoa’s cocoa trees remained, though, and as of 2016, there were still around 2000 hectares of planted with cocoa in Samoa. Since 2014, both Whittakers and the New Zealand government have been working to revive the industry.

So, where can you buy Samoan cocoa, and what do you do with it?

dark conical block of Koko Samoa with bits broken off to show inside the block and nibs in bowl

Locally, Samoan cocoa is known as Koko Samoa. It is sold in blocks (grate before use) nibs,pods,whole beans, powder or just the husks. You can use koko products to make delicious hot chocolate, chocolate rice pudding, chocolate bars,tea and whatever else you feel like creating!

You can buy these brands

Look for it at any dairy that sells Samoan products: there are a number on Avondale’s main street in Auckland. Let us know if you find it elsewhere and we’ll update this blog post!

Then there are the Whittakers Single origin Samoan and Bennettos Pistachios Dark blocks of chocolate - more easily found!

block of Whittakers single origin Samoan chocolate

Samaori sell chocolate coated cacao beans and chocolate bars of various flavours

Koko loa also sell milk chocolate coated items at times eg macadamia nuts and other flavoured chocolates (fruit and nut) made with Samoan Koko

Koko loa milk chocolate coated macadamia nuts - Samoan single origin cocoa

Then for those moments when you feel like enjoying someone else serving and baking for you!

We are aware of two businesses in Auckland that bake with koko Samoa:

inside Blue Rose Cafe. Wallpaper behind the counter is white with blue roses. In the foreground a person sips coffee looking away from the camera.
  • Blue Rose Cafe and Catering (in Sandringham, Auckland) exclusively uses Samoan cocoa throughout their businesses. Their signature koko Samoa cupcakes are very popular. They also often have chocolate caramel slice, brownies etc. available and make koko Samoa hot chocolate. As their name suggests, they do catering as well as offering both takeaway and dine-in options at the actual cafe;
  • Sweet and Me (in Onehunga, Auckland) uses both koko Samoa and mass-market cocoa, so be sure to look for a mention of ‘koko’ before buying. They sell cakes, cupcakes, fudge, and intricately-decorated macarons - either to order (for functions) or direct from their bakery.
light brown macarons decorated with traditional Fijian designs

If you see any more, please let us know!