“The exquisite Trinitario cocoa bean from the east of the island of Cuba, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean Sea, is the basis of this truffle creation. The pure natural product is blended with many years of experience to deliver an indescribable taste experience: fruits, black tea and a hint of vanilla.”

From The Company: “Since we are a traditional Zurich-based company we sell our products exclusively through our own Spruengli stores (Switzerland, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi) and via our E-Shop. We regret to inform you that it is not our business policy to export our products through a franchising system nor do we sell any licenses. Furthermore, we also do not have any expansion plans for the United States. For our Cuba Auténtica Collección products we only use cocoa beans from Baracoa, Cuba.”

“The beans are obtained by another company, Max Felchlin AG located in Schwyz, Switzerland. Link: https://www.felchlin.com/en/company/company-portrait. They import the cocoa beans and process them to couverture chocolate which we then use for our well-known products.”

Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs
United States Department of State
Washington DC

Goods and Services Eligible for Importation: “In accordance with the policy changes announced by the President on December 17, 2014, to further engage and empower the Cuban people, Section 515.582 of the Cuban Assets Control Regulations (31 CFR Part 515 – the CACR) authorizes the importation into the United States of certain goods and services produced by independent Cuban entrepreneurs as determined by the State Department as set forth on the Section 515.582. The goods whose import is authorized by Section 515.582 are goods produced by independent Cuban entrepreneurs, as demonstrated by documentary evidence, that are imported into the United States, except for goods specified in the following sections/chapters of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS).”

To date, only coffee beans (one importer) and charcoal (two importers) have been included on the list of goods authorized for export from the Republic of Cuba to the United States. Republic of Cuba government-operated Cubaexport (under the auspice of the Ministry for Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment of the Republic of Cuba) has refused requests to authorize coffee beans for direct export to the United States and thus far refused requests to authorize bulk honey and cocoa beans for direct export to the United States.

In August 2016, New York, New York-based Nestle Nespresso USA, Inc., a subsidiary of Vevey, Switzerland-based Nestle SA (2019 revenues approximately US$93 billion), introduced to the United States the first of multiple releases of the “Cafecito de Cuba” capsule. The coffee beans are exported from the Republic of Cuba to Switzerland for processing and then exported to the United States and other countries for sale-at-retail.

In January 2017 and July 2018, Hialeah, Florida-based Fogo Premium Lump Charcoal purchased a total of four twenty-foot containers of charcoal from the Republic of Cuba for distribution throughout the United States.

In May 2019, Foley, Alabama-based GulfWise Commerce LLC, affiliated with Foley, Alabama-based Woerner Companies (2019 revenues exceeded US$40 million) purchased two forty-foot containers of charcoal from the Republic of Cuba for distribution (including through Amazon.com and True Value hardware stores) throughout the United States.

The companies reported no transactional issues with the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the United States Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) of the United States Department of Commerce, or Office of Legal Adviser (OLA) at the United States Department of State.

LINKS To Related Posts:

Confiserie Sprungli AG & Dieter Meier Of Switzerland Use Cocoa Beans From Cuba June 20, 2018

Nestle Nespresso To Indirectly Import Coffee From Cuba To USA June 20, 2016

“Hecho En Cuba” Begins To Mean Something…. Is The Obama Administration Complying With Its Regulations? July 06, 2016

UPDATE: “Hecho En Cuba” Has Value…. Obama Administration Will Help & Accept Certification From Cuba July 14, 2016

Coffee & Charcoal Have Been Imported From Cuba; U.S. Companies Want More. Agricultural Commodities/Food Products/Healthcare Products Have Been Exported To Cuba; U.S. Companies Want More. October 02, 2021

Might Cubaexport In 2020 Permit “Independent Entrepreneurs” To Export Coffee Beans, Cocoa and Honey To The United States? January 14, 2020