Cacao trees grow in tropical climates, in those countries near the equator. Some of the top growers are in West Africa, Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic. In most cocoa growing areas, the main harvest lasts for several months. Differences in climate can cause wide variation in harvest times from year to year, even in the same locations.
Cacao beans are about the size of almonds, and about 25 to 40 beans or seeds are embedded in the moist pulp inside a pod. The cacao tree is an evergreen, and pink, yellow, or white flowers grow in clusters on the trunk and main branches. The average cacao tree produces 20 to 30 pods in a year, each pod producing 1 ½ to 2 ounces of dried beans.
When ripe, the pods are cut from the trees by hand. They are then cut open and the seeds are scooped out. The next step is a fermenting process, necessary for flavor development. During this time the white, moist pulp disappears. The seeds are then dried in the sun or by artificial means before proceeding with the next step.
To make chocolate, these dried beans are cleaned, weighed, blended, and then roasted to bring out their characteristic aroma. Next the beans are broken into little pieces, called nibs, and are separated from their outer shells. These nibs are more than 50 percent cocoa butter - an unusual vegetable fat. This cocoa butter is liquefied and released by grinding, thus forming a chocolate liquor. This chocolate liquor is the basic substance in all forms of chocolate. The processing then continues, forming one of the following types of chocolate:
- Unsweetened chocolate
- Cocoa
- Sweet chocolate
- Milk chocolate
- Semisweet chocolate
Chocolate is a source of fat and calories. One 1 ounce square unsweetened chocolate equals 142 calories; one 1 ounce square sweet chocolate equals 133 calories; 1 tablespoon cocoa powder equals 21 calories; 1 cup chocolate milk equals 208 calories.
Chocolate is a good source of quick, extra energy due to its easy digestibility. It has been taken along on many expeditions - to the tops of mountains, to the poles of the earth, as well as on space projects. Chocolate is one of the foods that is also included in survival kits for soldiers.
