Cocoa
By: Chad Smith
What is Cocoa?
For those who do not know and you might know what it is but do not know the definition. Cocoa is a chocolate powder made from roasted and ground cacao seeds.
Did you know nearly 70% of the world Cocoa comes from the continent of Africa
Cocoa Being shipped in bags that weigh as much as cement bags
Theobroma cacao or Cocoa Tree
This pod contain the cocoa seeds that will be later grinded down to make cocoa.
Cocoa Pod
The pods, which mature throughout the year, encase a sticky white pulp and about 30 or 40 seeds.
The History of the Cocoa Bean
Don Hernán Cortés
It is said that the first people to harvest cocoa beans and use it for social purposes, were both the Mayan and Aztec societys.
Cocoa beans weren't introduced to European culture until an Spanish Conquistador named Don Hernán Cortés, who first realised their commercial value. He brought cocoa beans back to Spain in 1528 and very gradually, the custom of drinking the chocolate spread across Europe, reaching England in the 1650s.
Aztec
'Chocolatl' was consumed in large quantities by the Aztecs as a luxury drink. Because of the dry climate, the Aztecs were unable to grow cocoa themselves, so they obtained supplies of cocoa beans from 'tribute' or trade. 'Tribute' was a form of taxation paid by provinces conquered by the Aztecs in wars.
Mayan Indian
The Maya Indians, an ancient people whose descendants still live in Central America, who first discovered the delights of cocoa as long ago as 600 AD.
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus is said to have brought the first cocoa beans back to Europe from his fourth visit to the 'New World' between 1502 and 1504. However far more exciting treasures on board his galleons meant the humble cocoa beans were ignored.
After the beans are removed out of the cocoa pod, it is used as animal feed so it never goes to waste
Although cocoa beans is mostly used to make chocolate there us other uses for it as well
Soft Soaps
Cocoa pod husk ash is used mainly for soft soap manufacture. To prepare the ash, fresh husks are spread out in the open to dry for one to two weeks. The dried husks are then incinerated in an ashing kiln.
Creme de Cacao
Cocoa bean is also used to produce various alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. For example Creme de Cacao.
- Crème de cacao is a chocolate flavored liqueur with hints of vanilla. It is less sweet and thicker than chocolate liqueur. The liqueur is available in dark or white (clear). It is used in drinks such as a Mocha Martini or Cubano Coffee. The sweet drink can also be used over ice cream or included in other desserts.
Jam and marmalade
Pectin for jam and marmalade is extracted from the sweatings by precipitation with alcohol, followed by distillation and recycling of the alcohol in further extractions.
The World uses almost 3 million tonnes of Cocoa beans annually
Chocolate is an $83 billion a year business, according to research firm MarketsandMarkets. That makes the industry's value larger than the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of more than 130 nations on earth, World Bank figures show.
Who eats the most?
The Top Chocolate Loving Nations are (lbs/yr):
- Switzerland 22.36
- Austria 20.13
- Ireland 19.47
- Germany 18.04
- Norway 17.93
Europeans account for nearly half of all the chocolate the world eats, according to the International Cocoa Organization. The average Brit, Swiss or German will each eat around 11 kilograms (24 pounds) of chocolate a year.
Chocolate Consumption Distribution Worldwide
The reality exists that the processing and consumption of chocolate products is Western World dominated. 70% of the worldwide profit from chocolate sales is concentrated in these countries. 80% of the world chocolate market is accounted for by just six transnational companies, including Nestle, Mars and Cadbury. Europeans alone consume around 40% of the world's cocoa per year, 85% of which is imported from West Africa. There have recently been efforts to initiate a fair-trade movement, which would encourage the purchase of cocoa from developing country producers at a fair price. However, tariff escalation continues to me a major problem, which acts to drive chocolate comsumers and cocoa exporters further apart.