Pingtung:Five Taiwanese cacao farmers have been selected to represent Taiwan at the 2027 Cacao of Excellence (CoEx) world competition following their outstanding performance in the 2026 CoEx Taiwan competition, as announced by the Pingtung County government on Sunday.

According to Focus Taiwan, the gold award in the Taiwan event was awarded to Mo Chia-wei of Laomo Cocoa located in Pingtung County. The silver award went to Shih Shu-chin from Huirui Cocoa Farm in Changhua County, while Lin Cheng-hung of Si Wei Cocoa Workshop in Nantou County secured the bronze. Additionally, Lai Hsi-hsien of Wugawan Coffee and Chocolate and Chuang Hui-fang of Doudou Fragrance Cocoa Estate, both based in Pingtung County, received honorable mentions and will also represent Taiwan.

The Taiwan competition, co-organized by the Pingtung County government and the Taiwan Cocoa and Chocolate Industry Association, saw a total of 30 cacao bean samples submitted. Of these, 13 progressed to the sensory evaluation stage after passing tests for physical quality, moisture content, and pesticide residues. The beans were processed into cocoa paste and chocolate using standardized procedures of roasting, grinding, and tempering.

The five award-winning entries were selected based on their aroma, acidity, bitterness, and astringency, adhering to CoEx standards. These 13 entries will be transformed into fine chocolate products and showcased at the Pingtung cacao pavilion during the Taiwan International Coffee Show scheduled for November 13-16.

CoEx, an esteemed international cacao competition, is held biennially. Participants must first excel in national competitions to qualify for the global stage. Taiwan previously won two silver awards and one bronze at the 2025 CoEx awards.