Why Cacao Prices Are Rising — And Why We’re Not Increasing Ours

Over the past year, cacao prices across the world have reached record highs.

Extreme weather, crop diseases, poor harvests, and long-term underpayment of farmers have created a global shortage — and the cost of cacao has surged because of it.

For many big chocolate companies, this has become the perfect excuse to change their ingredients.

Instead of improving quality or supporting farmers, a lot of brands are choosing the cheaper route: **more fillers, more emulsifiers, more cocoa butter replacements, and much less real cacao.**

And that means the chocolate on the shelves — especially the cheaper options — is becoming even more ultra-processed than before.

1. Replacing cacao with cheaper fats

Ingredients like shea butter, palm oil, vegetable fats, or seed oils get added to “stretch” the chocolate.

2. Increasing emulsifiers and additives

Lecithins, stabilisers, flavour enhancers, and preservatives appear more often — not for taste, but for profit margins.

3. Reducing cocoa solids

Some companies lower the actual cacao content and boost sugar to maintain the “chocolate” taste while cutting costs.

4. Compromising on sourcing

Higher costs tempt brands to move away from ethical suppliers and avoid paying fair prices to farmers.

What We’re Doing at Nature’s Joint Cacao

We’ve had a lot of customers asking the same question lately:

Are you putting your prices up now that cacao is so expensive?

And the honest answer is: NO. We’re keeping our prices exactly the same. Why?

Because our decision to start this small company was ours — not yours.

It’s not your fault that global prices have risen, and we don’t believe you should be punished for it.

We began Nature’s Joint with one intention:

To bring pure, traditionally-made cacao from indigenous communities directly to people who appreciate it.

That intention hasn’t changed — and neither will our integrity. What You’ll Never See From Us.

Even with cacao prices rising, we refuse to:

❌ Add fillers or cheap fats

❌ Add emulsifiers

❌ Cut the cacao content

❌ Reduce quality

❌ Compromise on our producers, communities, or ethics

Our cacao will always remain:

✔ 100% pure

✔ Non–ultra processed

✔ Directly sourced

✔ Traditionally made

✔ Rich in nutrients

✔ Tested for heavy metals

✔ Uncompromised in flavour

Because that’s what ceremonial-grade cacao is meant to be.

A Thank You To Our Community

We don’t take your support lightly.

Every message, every order, every return customer — it all keeps this small, purpose-led company alive.

You’ve helped us grow naturally, without shortcuts, and without needing to cut corners like bigger brands do.

And as long as we’re here, we promise you this:

We will always honour the quality of the cacao and the people who grow it — no matter what the market does.