After 43 Cocoa Bean Origin Trips This Is How I Pack

Hint: It’s not about the chocolate, it’s about the chocolate.

You’re looking at my organized mess for origin trip #44 to Tanzania. Lawren and I are departing tomorrow. My number one rule is that everything must fit in a carry-on. Period. I stopped checking bags in 2006 when mine were lost somewhere in Tapachula, Mexico. I have used an Osprey roller bag with a daypack attachment for many years. What’s great about this bag is that it fits in the overhead, has backpack straps in case I need them and the best thing is that I can attach my daypack to it and relieve my shoulders walking miles through an airport. 

All of my origin trips are near the equator, hot, humid, and often remote. As you can see I take a lot of stuff with me and my tasks are fairly similar on each trip. First, I always bring massive amounts of chocolate for farmers to taste. This week will be enough for 60 farmers. In order to do this I take one frozen polar pack (it’s not liquid when I pass through TSA and I keep it frozen along the way). I use a reflective thermal envelope to keep it cool once I arrive. I take roasted cocoa beans so they can taste our latest roasting profile and see how we try to dial in flavor. Second, I bring profit share documents; essentially our financials and a calculation of the share in English and Swahili (since I will be in Tanzania next week). Third, I always bring gifts for our farmer friends. This time you will see 100 orange pens in the photos imprinted with the farmer coop name and ours. This was Lawren’s great idea and the farmers will love these. We’re also bringing gifts for the Empowered Girls/Enlightened Boys graduating students. We’ve also packed notes from our local middle school summer school students to the kids in our after-school program in the village. The coolest gift is a big banner commemorating our Academy of Chocolate Award for our “Tanzania Peppermint Dark Chocolate”. Every award we win we share with farmers in some way. The farmers will hand this proudly in their office. Another great idea from Lawren, this banner highlights the farmer cooperative and they will love it. 

You’ll see I’ve packed a can of my favorite sardines, some pistachios, and not pictured a box of Good & Plenty, and an airplane bottle I filled up with Macallan 12 year old single malt scotch (a Christmas gift from Lawren). Why? Because while I am there I will visit my good friend Mr. Livingston, an elder, cocoa farmer, and husband of the coop leader Mama M’Poki. I will be in his home and I always bring him something special and this time I wanted to share some of my favorite snacks and a sip with them. At first glance they might not be the “perfect pairing” but they are for me and they will be for him too. 

Do you see the theme here? I first pack my little suitcase for relationships and everything else comes after that. 

My list below is pretty self-explanatory. Some things require a mention. Since I cannot afford business class tickets — and yes I do covet those seats on transocean flights (more like beds) when I pass by and walk another 30 rows to my seat — I do some things to make my journey a little more comfortable. I spring for the Admirals Club, it’s not inexpensive but a lifesaver on some trips even though I am sick of carrots and humus. My American Express card comes with a Priority Pass membership that gets me in to airport clubs/lounges all over the world. Most of them are about the size of a two bedroom apartment. However, it can be a really nice place to relax on a layover after a 13 hour flight and they might have a hot shower and a comfortable chair. Another thing you might notice in my in my small bag is a tube of Aesop after-shave lotion. I put that stuff on my hands and face mid-flight and it’s super rejuvenating mainly because it smells great. Another luxury is my Bose Noise Canceling headphones which make a huge difference. 

I pack a small bag (Peak Design, but could be anything) that holds the main stuff I’ll need in-flight inside my backpack for long flights. I use a carabiner and hang it on the seat back in front of me. It fits inside my daypack and I pull it out as soon as I find my seat and I put everything else in the overhead (my pack attached to the Osprey). Now I have unencumbered floor space and everything I will need for the next 14 hours or so right in front of me. 

Without further adieu, here’s my list . . . .

My Packing List

I use an Osprey carry on with a small backpack attachment. 

-GIFTS!

Clothes
-I pack all of my clothes in 2 Eagle Creek ultra-light compression cubes. These are a must for me as I would not be able to fit all of this without them. My brother Jason gave these to me several years ago. 
-2 pairs long pants (lightweight quick dry and a pair of jeans that I wear)
-1 nicer long sleeve shirt
-1 t-shirt
-4 daytime shirts for sun, heat, and humidity
-5 pairs of underwear (most places I stay can do laundry)
-3 pairs socks
-1 pair shoes that I wear. My main requirements: lightweight, durable, lots of arch support, maybe water-resistant. They must  be able to take lots of walking, standing, hiking on farms. Lawren swears that bringing an extra pair makes all the difference but I don’t have room. I buy rubber boots for $15 at origin during the rainy season and give them away before I leave.
-hat 
-belt
-hoodie/pullover (for plane and nights)
-Ultra lightweight raincoat (by LightHeart)
-Sleeping sheet insert (in case of a really questionable hotel bed)
-Pillow case (see above)
-washcloth

Toiletries Bag
I keep this packed all of the time
-I use the Osprey Ultralight
-deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, razor
-Mosquito repellant
-Sunscreen
-Shout wipes
-Small roll [not the whole thing!] of toilet paper with cardboard out in plastic baggie
-shave cream
-dental floss
-lip balm
-razor

Med Bag
I keep this packed all of the time
-Eagle Creek small compression cube 
-Malarone – anti-malarial
-Imodium
-Cipro
–Re:iimmune
-Benadryl
-Ibuprofen/Aleve

Gadget Bag
Always packed 
– Flash drive
– iPhone to HDMI adapter
– REI Travel Adapter (no longer available) but like this one on Amazon.
– Wall charger / 4 USB
– Macbook Air charger /cord
– extra lightening cord
– Bluetooth speaker
– USB plus battery
– black electrical tape to cover gadget lights
– “Polar pack” to keep chocolate cold
– Rode VideoMic for iPhone
– Rode Lav mic
– Fuji X100T camera
– Joby GorillaPod Kit tripod

Mini-Bag [Design Peak] (daypack)
Always packed
-Passport! [make sure more than 6 months before expiration]
-Priority Pass Club Card
-Yellow Fever Card
-Bose noise canceling earbuds
-Gum
-Protein bars
-pens
-aspirin
-extended iPhone battery case 
-Kindle + charger
-iPhone charger
-wallet
-eyeshade
-ear plugs
-iPhone charger plug
-Nixall sanitizer
-almonds and crackers
-Wisps
-Aesop after-shave lotion

CASH
–   personal
–   profit share
–   credit card
–   debit cards
–   extra credit card