Hainan exported its first batch of cocoa beans to EU in early October, a milestone for Hainan, the northernmost region in the world to cultivate cocoa beans, to become a major global producer and exporter of cocoa beans.

The 500 kilograms of Reyin-4 cocoa, worth € 3,044, were shipped to Belgium via Yangshan Port in Shanghai. This variety was developed by scientists at the Spice and Beverage Research Institute in Wanning, the southeastern city of Hainan, at the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences. Scientists used more than 500 cocoa varieties from 28 countries to produce Reyin-4 by using techniques including systematic selection and artificial hybridization.

The institute also produced hybrid cocoa beans such as ZYP-6-8, BGL-22-2, and Xiangke-1, which are recognized for their superior quality and flavors.