Advertisement

Island Chocolate 101

  • Updated: March 30, 2011

Our salute to that most delectable of tropical fruits, the cacao plant, and the lush island climates that make planting and harvesting the sweet treat possible.

cocoa-chocolate.jpg
From chocolate cakes and truffles to cocoa powder and Oaxacan mole, it’s hard to imagine a life without the cacao plant. And thanks to the balmy tropical climates and rich, fertile soil of many islands, we don’t have to. Thinkstock
cocoa-pod-3.jpg
The path to scrumptious chocolate begins with the cacao butter plant – small pods containing cacao seeds that grow on cacao trees in humid, fertile climates. Return to Main Page Thinkstock
cocoa-pod-2.jpg
Native to the Amazon region, the cacao plant flourishes in tropical climates such as Central and South America, coastal Africa and many regions of the Caribbean – particularly Trinidad, Grenada and Martinique. Return to Main Page Thinkstock
cocoa-pod-1.jpg
Cracked open, the cacao fruit pods contain around 30 cacao seeds each. It takes around 10 of these pods to make one pound of cocoa. Return to Main Page Thinkstock
cocoa-beans.jpg
Once the cacao beans are removed from the cacao plant, they go through a fermentation process. Return to Main Page Thinkstock
cocoa-drying-in-sun-venezuela.jpg
The cacao seeds are dried – often sun-dried, as seen here in Venezuela – before being cleaned and packed for processing into a chocolate liquor paste. Return to Main Page Thinkstock
cocoa-shavings.jpg
Once the beans are dried, they’re roasted and shelled for the kernels within, ultimately leaving us with chocolate liquer, cocoa powder and all varieties of chocolate we know and savor today. Return to Main Page Thinkstock
Advertisement

Email Newsletters and Special Offers

Sign up for Islands emails to receive features on travel destinations, event listings and product reviews as well as special offers on behalf of Islands’ partners.

By signing up you agree to receive communications from Islands and select partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy. You may opt out of email messages/withdraw consent at any time.

More

Advertisement

Read More

ABOUT US
FOLLOW US
BONNIER BRANDS

Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Islands may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site.

Copyright © 2023 lslands. A Bonnier LLC Company. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.