Cacao fruit

Cacao fruit

  • +Description

    Cacao fruit is native to Colombia. Chocolate is derived from the seeds (or pods) of the cacao. These fruits grow on the cacao tree. The cacao tree reaches a height from 4 up to 8 m. The leaves are oval and evergreen. The almost 1 cm big flowers grow the whole year directly at the trunk. The fruits look like fat cucumbers and are 15 to 20 cm big. During drying of the cacaofruit the skin turns from white to cacao red. In the fruit, there are about 20 till 50 brown beans. These beans are covert in a white pulp. This pulp has a sour/sweet taste.

  • +Availability

    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    Available Available Available Available Available Available Available Available Available Available Available Available

    Cacao fruit is available from Vietnam.

  • +Main nutrients

    Calcium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Potassium, Zinc, Vitamin A, B, C and E.

Main varieties

  • Cacao fruit

    Cacao fruit

    Chocolate is derived from the seeds (or pods) of the cacao. These fruits grow on the cacao tree. The fruits look like fat cucumbers and are 15 to 20 cm big. During drying of the cacaofruit the skin turns from white to cacao red.

    View Cacao fruit

Preparation

Preparation

The cacao fruit is already split open, when ripe. From here, cut the fruit , by placing the knife in the opening. Then scoop out the two halves with a tablespoon and eat directly or use for further preparation. The cacao beans can be easily dried by just spreading them out on a plate. The pulp surrounding the beans will fall off, when it has dried out.

Consumption

The raw pulp and cacao can be eaten out-of-hand. However the pulp is commonly not eaten, but just removed to get by the beans. The beans are often roasted, brewed, or powdered into tea. Many chocolate products are made of the cacao powder

When to eat

Fruits change colour from green or dark purple to red, when they ripen. Ripe cacao fruit can be kept at room temperature.

Did you know?

  • It takes 20 to 25 cacao fruits to get 1 kilo of cacao.
  • The Aztecs used the cacao bean to produce a beverage called xocoatl.
  • The first chocolate bar was made in Switzerland in 1819, and in 1875 milk chocolate was invented.
  • Cacao works as an aphrodisiac.

 

 

 

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