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The Chocolate King of Sao Tome'

85 images Created 27 Oct 2012

Claudio Corallo has forty years of experience producing coffee and chocolate in Africa, working first in Zaire (today's Democratic Republic of Congo) and since the 1990s in São Tomé and Príncipe, a tiny archipelago off the coast of Guinea in West Africa. Born in Florence in northern Italy in 1974, Claudio moved to Zaire when he was 23. After several years working in the coffee trade, he bought a run-down plantation in the centre of the country, reviving it to produce high-quality coffee that he exported to the world.

Forced to leave in the mid-1990s after rebel forces launched a civil war that would end in the toppling of Mobutu Sese Seko’s government, he moved to São Tomé and Príncipe, to continue his plantation career, this time growing cacao trees, the plant that produces the bean used in cocoa and chocolate. Today he grows his own cacao beans on Príncipe, then ships them the 90 miles to São Tomé where he runs a processing plant.

When he started out, his greatest challenge was removing the characteristic bitterness of the variety of beans grown on his plantation. He set up a laboratory beside his home, testing and experimenting with new ways of fermenting the beans, until he eventually came up with his own process for producing bitter-free cocoa. Today, he sells his dark chocolate to gourmet buyers, mainly in Europe, the United States and Japan.

*On assignment for National Geographic. (Italy/Brazil)

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  • In the evening Claudio Corallo rests in his house and plantation on the island of Principe, in Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    001_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Claudio Corallo is feeling the aromas released from a handful of cocoa that is drying on a wood desiccator in the technical area of his plantation on the island of Principe, in Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    002_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Two workers, in charge of gathering the cocoa harvest, are walking next to a big shade tree, in the plantation of Claudio Corallo on the island of Principe, in Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    003_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • A worker is picking cocoa in the plantation of Claudio Corallo on the island of Principe, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    004_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • A worker is selecting toasted cocoa, during the last process before it becomes chocolate, in the technical area of Claudio Corallo's Nova Moca plantation, on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    005_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • A local festival called ‘Tragedy’ is taking place in the village of Santo Amaro on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    006_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • The priest of the local evangelical church ‘Assembly of God’ is talking to people attending Sunday morning mass on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    007_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • A girl is standing by near her home in Roça Agua Ize', on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    008_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Claudio Corallo is pruning a Liberian-quality coffee plant in his plantation on the island of Principe, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    009_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Children living in Roça Ribeira Funda are standing around at sunset, on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    010_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • People are busy walking around a market on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    011_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Fishermen are looking for banks of fish near the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    012_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • A fisherman is rowing on his boat near the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    013_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • A group of soccer fans are celebrating their team’s victory and advancement from second to first division in Guadalupe, a small town near the city of Sao Tome, on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    014_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Using candles, Claudio Corallo is writing notes while sitting inside his house on the island of Principe, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    015_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Workers are opening cocoa fruits, and from them picking beans, in the plantation of Claudio Corallo on the island of Principe, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    016_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Boys living in the old hospital of Roça Agostinho Neto are producing maize flour to be sold at the local market, on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    017_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • The island of Principe is being overflown by a small plane that connects it with Sao Tome, in Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    018_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • A worker is picking fresh coffee beans in the Nova Moca plantation of Claudio Corallo, on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    019_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • A girl is walking around a market on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    020_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • A young mother is playing with her daughter at the entrance of the old hospital of Roça Agostinho Neto, where they are now living, on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    021_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • The chocolate produced by Claudio Corallo is being cut by a worker, in his laboratory on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    022_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Claudio Corallo is looking after one of the groups of tourists that every week visit his laboratory to taste his amazing products, and to learn more about his unique types of coffee and chocolate, on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    023_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • A worker is picking fresh coffee beans in the Nova Moca plantation of Claudio Corallo, on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    024_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Fishermen are working near the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    025_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • A young mother is feeding her baby, while another woman is taking care of her braids on the streets of Guadalupe, a small town near the city of Sao Tome, on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    026_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Next to yellow taxis, people are busy walking around a market on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    027_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Sitting next to an open beer, a mother is tying her draught’s braids in a small market area on the island of Principe, in Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    028_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Women and youngsters are washing clothes and dishes in Ribeira Afonso, on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    029_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Fishermen are pulling back a net full of fish near the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    030_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • The sun is setting over baobab trees near Lago Azul, on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    031_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Youngsters are diving into the sea near Claudio Corallo’s home on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    032_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Children living inside the old hospital of Roça Agostinho Neto, are playing on the streets of the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    033_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • A worker is picking cocoa in the plantation of Claudio Corallo on the island of Principe, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    034_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • One of the cocoa varieties that are growing in Claudio Corallo’s plantation on the island of Principe, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    035_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Workers are selecting and bagging coffee beans picked in the Nova Moca plantation of Claudio Corallo, on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    036_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • A worker is turning cocoa beans brewing in the technical area of the Claudio Corallo’s plantation on the island of Principe, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    037_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Cocoa beans are brewing in the technical area of the Claudio Corallo’s plantation on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    038_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • A worker selecting raisins that Claudio Corallo uses for his varieties of chocolates with alcoholic distillates, while in his laboratory on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    039_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Different stamps used for the products of Claudio Corallo are exposed in his laboratory on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    040_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • After takeoff, Claudio Corallo is resting in is seat, on the small plane that travels between Sao Tome and the island of Principe, in Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    041_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • At sunset, a young woman is collecting dry clothes in Roça Ribeira Funda, on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    042_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • At sunrise, fishermen are preparing their nets before venturing into the sea with their boat in Praia Cruz, on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    043_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Fishermen are selling the fish caught in the morning, in Praia Cruz, on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    044_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Children are playing inside the old hospital of Roça Agostinho Neto, where they now live with their families, on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    045_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • A man is wearing a Barack Obama t-shirt while standing around a fish market in Praia Cruz, on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    046_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Many families are now living in Roça Agua Ize', on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    047_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • A group of Christians are attending Sunday morning mass at the local evangelical church ‘Assembly of God’, on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    048_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • With her child on the back, a young mother is walking the stairs up to their home in Roça Agua Ize', on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    049_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • A soccer game is being playing near the village of Treinidade Lamus, near the city of Sao Tome, on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    050_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Two girls are playing on the streets of Roça  Monte Café’, on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    051_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • A woman is walking on the road leading to Pico Maria Fernandes, on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    052_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Workers are selecting and bagging fresh coffee beans in the Nova Moca plantation of Claudio Corallo, on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    053_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Workers are turning cocoa that is drying on a wood desiccator in the technical area of Claudio Corallo’s plantation on the island of Principe, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    054_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Claudio Corallo is showing a handful of cocoa drying on a wood desiccator in the technical area of his plantation on the island of Principe, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    055_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • The chocolate produced by Claudio Corallo is being spread on a tray in his laboratory on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    056_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Claudio Corallo is portrayed by the entrance of his house on the island of Principe, in Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    057_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Youngsters are diving into the sea near Claudio Corallo’s home on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    058_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Fishermen are trying to catch a bank of fish near the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    059_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Fishermen are working near the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    060_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • A dog is walking next to a house of Roça Agostinho Neto, on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    061_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Children living in Roça Ribeira Funda are making and playing with wood carts, on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    062_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • People living in the old hospital of Roça Agostinho Neto are walking down the stairs leading to their rooms, on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    063_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Children living in Roça Ribeira Funda are playing with wood carts, on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    064_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Children are playing inside the old hospital of Roça Agostinho Neto, where they now live with their families, on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    065_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • A local singer is entertaining guests at a trendy restaurant on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    066_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Couples are dancing Quizomba in a nightclub on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    067_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • A man carrying an umbrella on his shoulder is walking near a market on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    068_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • A local festival called ‘Tragedy’ is taking place in the village of Santo Amaro on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    069_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • A local festival called ‘Tragedy’ is taking place in the village of Santo Amaro on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    070_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Two workers in charge of gathering the cocoa harvest, are walking next to a big shade tree in the plantation of Claudio Corallo, on the island of Principe, in Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    071_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Two workers are getting paid in the technical area of the Nova Moca plantation of Claudio Corallo, on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    072_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • The liquid chocolate produced by Claudio Corallo is being poured on a tray in his chocolate laboratory on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    073_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • The island of Principe is being overflown by a small plane that connects it with Sao Tome, in Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    074_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • A Ngembu bat is flying between trees in the plantation of Claudio Corallo on the island of Principe, in Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    075_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Claudio Corallo is talking on his mobile phone while standing by the entrance of his house on the island of Principe, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    076_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • The island of Principe is being overflown by a small plane that connects it with Sao Tome, in Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    077_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Claudio Corallo is pruning a Liberian-quality coffee plant in his plantation on the island of Principe, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    078_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • A worker is picking cocoa in the plantation of Claudio Corallo on the island of Principe, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    079_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • A worker is picking fresh coffee beans in the Nova Moca plantation of Claudio Corallo, on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    080_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • A young man is walking near an old Portuguese house in Claudio Corallo's Nova Moca plantation, on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    081_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Workers are selecting raisins that Claudio Corallo uses for his varieties of chocolates with alcoholic distillates, while in his laboratory on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    082_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • In the harbour of Sao Tome, three workers are collecting bags of Claudio Corallo’s dried cocoa, that are being transported by boat from his plantation to the island of Principe, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    083_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • Claudio Corallo is following production orders of coffee and chocolate in his laboratory on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    084_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
  • The liquid chocolate produced by Claudio Corallo is being poured on a tray in his chocolate laboratory on the island of Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe, (STP) a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.
    085_King_of_Chocolate_Corallo.JPG
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