Yasica Especial is a Limited Release single-origin dark chocolate bar from Goodnow Farms, crafted from a single sack of ancient Nicaragua Criollo beans grown by farmer Giff Laube along the Yasica river. The bar's debut vintage won Best in Competition at the Northwest Chocolate Festival. Production is intentionally small, with beans roasted and conched under minute-by-minute taste monitoring.
At a glance
Vendor: Goodnow Farms Chocolate
Style: Single-origin, bean-to-bar dark chocolate
Origin: Yasica river region, Nicaragua
Genetics: Ancient Nicaragua Criollo (USDA-verified "Laube 1" tree)
Farmer: Giff Laube, propagated by hand-grafting over nearly a decade
Bean color: White beans that dry to light brown
Production: Very limited release from a single sack of dried cacao
Award: Best in Competition, Northwest Chocolate Festival (debut vintage)
Best for
Craft chocolate collectors and tasting clubs
Bean-to-bar enthusiasts who chase rare genetics
Side-by-side tastings against other single-origin bars
Memorable gifts for serious chocolate lovers
Special-occasion desserts and pairings
Anyone curious to taste cacao tied to ancient Latin American varieties
Flavor profile
Sweet Concord grapes (grape jelly)
Juicy strawberries
Honey
Cashews
Pairings
Tawny port, late-harvest riesling, or a sweeter sherry
Espresso or single-origin pour-over coffee
Fresh strawberries and honeyed ricotta
Aged gouda or manchego for a sweet-savory plate
About Goodnow Farms Chocolate
Goodnow Farms is a Massachusetts bean-to-bar maker that sources cacao directly from farmers, freshly presses its own single-origin cocoa butter, and crafts award-winning chocolate from raw bean to finished bar.
