The Java A light breaking cacao is the result of a breeding programme which started in 1912 in the Djati Roenggo (“DR”) Estate in Central Java, with the objective to develop a high yielding fine cacao variety. Bi-parental crosses were made between a newly introduced Venezuelan Cundeamor parent (most likely Ocumare) and the local Java Criollo. The latter is believed to derive from the originally introduced Venezuelan Criollo by the Spaniards as early as 1560.

These DR hybrids were widely adopted during the expansion of cacao farming in the 1930s, mainly in East Java. However, their resistance to cacao diseases and pests was unsatisfactory, which led to the breeding of bulk cacao starting in the 1950s.

The Kendeng Lembu Estate, owned by PT Perkebunan Nusantara XII (“PTPN XII”), is the only remaining plantation in Indonesia which has a designated growing area for this very unique cacao.