“For most people, tulips, windmills, and bike lanes spring to mind when they think of the Netherlands. But most people would be surprised to learn that the Netherlands ranks first in the world as an exporter of cocoa products, recently overtaking neighboring Germany.
The Netherlands recorded cocoa exports of 12.4 billion euros in 2025”
I would guess that’s a holdout from colonial times. Indonesia used to be a Dutch colony up till world war two. Might even date back to when there was a Dutch colony in Brazil (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_Brazil), but that page doesn’t mention cocoa, and I wouldn’t even know whether there was cocoa in Brazil at the time.
That's because Rotterdam is Europe's largest sea port. About half of our exports are actually re-exports that don't have their origin in the Netherlands.
Part of the flavor is the bean, how the fruit is grown and harvested. Part is how its processed, fermented, and maybe roasted, but the final step is usually that it is then sold and processed - melanged and conched and mixed to a desired flavor profile, and then turned into a form that is edible. So who's to say, really.
More likely from an intermediary, possibly one from the Netherlands. https://www.expatrepublic.com/netherlands-largest-cocoa-expo...:
“For most people, tulips, windmills, and bike lanes spring to mind when they think of the Netherlands. But most people would be surprised to learn that the Netherlands ranks first in the world as an exporter of cocoa products, recently overtaking neighboring Germany.
The Netherlands recorded cocoa exports of 12.4 billion euros in 2025”
I would guess that’s a holdout from colonial times. Indonesia used to be a Dutch colony up till world war two. Might even date back to when there was a Dutch colony in Brazil (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_Brazil), but that page doesn’t mention cocoa, and I wouldn’t even know whether there was cocoa in Brazil at the time.
That's because Rotterdam is Europe's largest sea port. About half of our exports are actually re-exports that don't have their origin in the Netherlands.
Then should it not be Ghanaian chocolate rather than Swiss?
Then most of global products are made in China, including many Swiss Made (TM) or US made.
Chocolate is a product made with cacao and other ingredients. But the best manufacturers declare the origin of their beans, which might be Ghana.
Part of the flavor is the bean, how the fruit is grown and harvested. Part is how its processed, fermented, and maybe roasted, but the final step is usually that it is then sold and processed - melanged and conched and mixed to a desired flavor profile, and then turned into a form that is edible. So who's to say, really.
There is significant processing required to go from cacao to chocolate.
Ah yes, just like every battery is from Congo because of the cobalt ?