Cocoa Tree Names:
Cocoa Tree Names Common Name(s)-
Cocoa Tree
Cacao
Chocolate
Scientific Name-
Theobroma Cacao
Greek Name-
Food of the Gods
Classification:
Classification Kingdom- Plants
Division- Magnoliophyta
Class- Magnoliopsida
Order- Malvales
Family- Sterculiaceae
Geographically-
Central American cocoa
South American cocoa
West Indian Cocoa
West African cocoa
East African cocoa Asian cocoa Australia
Stage-
Raw, dried or roasted
Dried, roasted and clean
Broken
Cocoa mass
Chem. treated and processed cocoa mass
Broken bean contain up to 10% extraneous materials
Bean particles obtained during processing
Cocoa shells
Characteristics:
Characteristics Small tree- 4 to 8 meters
If shaded by tall forests trees- up to 10 meters
Stem is straight- wood is light and white
Bark is thin- smoothish brownish
Fruitpod- up to 15-25 cm length
Each pod- 30 to 40 seeds- after drying and fermentation they are called cocoa beans
Seeds are reddish-brownish externally, covered by white sweet pulps
Habitat or Region Found:
Habitat or Region Found Need rainfall between 1150-2500 mm per year
Temperature between 21 degrees Celsius
Originally from the Amazon basin, spreading to Central America, particularly Mexico Varieties of Cocoa Trees
Forastero- found widely in West Africa and Brazil
Criollo- mostly grown in parts of the Caribbean, Venezuela, Papua New Guinea the West Indies, Sri Lanka, East Timor and Java
Trinitario- cross from Criollo and Forastero
Uses to Humans or Other Organisms:
Uses to Humans or Other Organisms Medicine- anxiety, fever, fatigue, and coughs
Treats- anaemia, emaciation, kidney stones, cuts, and burns
Beneficially healthy and well being
Chocolate is a treat to eat
Chocolate is rich in polyphemois- same antioxidants found in red wine- helps protects against heart disease/cancer and improve immune system
Cocoa beans- saturated fat- can help lower cholesterol
Interesting Facts and Figures:
Interesting Facts and Figures There are three varieties of cocoa trees.
1st- Forastero (most common 90%)
2nd- Criollo (second common)
3rd- Trinitario (last place)
It was used by natives in Mexico like the Olmecs and the Mayas.
The Aztecs used it as a bitter chocolate drink.
Christopher Columbus found cocoa beans in America. (not popular in Europe at the time)
Hernando Cortes found drinks from the Aztecs and sent the beans and recipe to King Charles V.
Cocoa trees produce a over 150 different chemical in leaves.
Four intermediate ingredient produces- cocoa liquor, cocoa butter, cocoa cake, and cocoa powder