Dr. Sanh La-ongsri

CO-FOUNDER, MARKRIN CHOCOLATE Food

Industry : Food

Dr Sanh La-Ongsri and his wife Kanokked kicked off MarkRin Chocolate back in 2010, putting Thailand on the map as the first bean to bar chocolate maker in the country. Their secret weapon is a homegrown cocoa variety called I.M.1, a unique hybrid crafted from over 30 years of research. It blends Peruvian ICS and Filipino Criollo Forastero strains, known for drought resistance, high yields and creating a flavour profile that is truly Thai. The name I.M.1 is a nod to their kids Irin and Mark.

MarkRin keeps tight control over everything from seedling to chocolate bar. They work with more than 2,000 farmers across 75 provinces, championing organic, intercropped and fully traceable farming. Their Chiang Mai facility handles fermentation, drying, roasting and conching in-house to guarantee quality every time.
Their lineup includes organic dark, milk and white bars plus cocoa powder, nibs, butter and superfoods all inspired by Thai tradition. In 2023, they broke into Europe exporting I.M.1 beans with Dutch partner Daarnhouwer. MarkRin continuously raises Thailand’s cacao game on the world stage with genuine quality and authenticity.