Harvesting of Cocoa Beans

<h1>Harvesting of Cocoa Beans</h1>Author: <a title="AnneMing" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/anneming/107702.htm">AnneMing</a> Cocoa beans provide an amazing number of important nutrients, which can help improve general health. However, cocoa beans do have to go through an extensive harvesting process. Cocoa beans are derived from the Cacao tree, which is also called “Theobroma Cacao” (botanical name). Cacao trees produce a distinctive slender flower, which is small, usually pink in color. Though a cacao tree can have hundreds of flowers, usually less than five percent of these flowers actually produce cacao pods. Cacao pods are fairly large, and have a rind that is approximately 3cm thick. Inside the rind is a thick, sweet pulp that encases 30-50 cocoa beans. These beans are almond-like in shape, and range in color from pink, to purple, to light brown. The Cacao pods are harvested from the cacao trees, usually by using a curved machete or large knife. In contrast to many other fruit-bearing trees, a cacao pods is only ready to harvest when it is green in color. If a cacao pod is red or orange in color, this means that the quality of the beans will be inferior. These inferior cacao pods are usually only used for industrial chocolate products, since the flavor is not as rich as in green cacao pods. The rind of the cacao pod is removed, but the pulp and seeds are left together. The pulp of the cacao pod is placed with the seeds, usually on a grate or in a large bin. The pulp and beans are left for several days, which causes the pulp to ferment. This part of the cocoa bean processing is actually very important, and is also called “sweating”. The pulp of the cacao pod ferments, turning into liquid. This liquid helps cacao beans to lose their bitter taste, and creates the refined cocoa flavor that we are now familiar with. If a cacao bean is not subjected to the sweating process, it retains a taste like a raw potato. Once the “sweating” is accomplished, the cocoa beans are spread out to dry. This is accomplished by placing the beans on large trays, and drying them with sunlight (or artificial heat). The beans need to be constantly raked, in order to be thoroughly dried. Sun-dried cocoa beans retain the best flavor, as artificial heat drying often leaves behind oil, smoke or propellant flavors. Once dried, the cocoa beans are readied for shipping, and are prepared to be used in cocoa production facilities all over the world.About the Author: Marabel Cocoa Farms - <a target="_new" href="http://www.marabelfarms.com">cacao beans</a> - <a target="_new" href="http://www.marabelfarms.com/farms.html">Sanchez and Hispaniola cacao beans</a> producer and importer from the Dominican Republic. Tel: (800) 919-3744 Tel: (626) 446-5995Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">ArticlesBase.com</a> - <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/chocolate-articles/harvesting-of-cocoa-beans-1055878.html" title="Harvesting of Cocoa Beans">Harvesting of Cocoa Beans</a>

Cocoa beans provide an amazing number of important nutrients, which can help improve general health. However, cocoa beans do have to go through an extensive harvesting process.

Cocoa beans are derived from the Cacao tree, which is also called “Theobroma Cacao” (botanical name). Cacao trees produce a distinctive slender flower, which is small, usually pink in color. Though a cacao tree can have hundreds of flowers, usually less than five percent of these flowers actually produce cacao pods. Cacao pods are fairly large, and have a rind that is approximately 3cm thick. Inside the rind is a thick, sweet pulp that encases 30-50 cocoa beans. These beans are almond-like in shape, and range in color from pink, to purple, to light brown.

The Cacao pods are harvested from the cacao trees, usually by using a curved machete or large knife. In contrast to many other fruit-bearing trees, a cacao pods is only ready to harvest when it is green in color. If a cacao pod is red or orange in color, this means that the quality of the beans will be inferior. These inferior cacao pods are usually only used for industrial chocolate products, since the flavor is not as rich as in green cacao pods.

The rind of the cacao pod is removed, but the pulp and seeds are left together. The pulp of the cacao pod is placed with the seeds, usually on a grate or in a large bin. The pulp and beans are left for several days, which causes the pulp to ferment. This part of the cocoa bean processing is actually very important, and is also called “sweating”. The pulp of the cacao pod ferments, turning into liquid. This liquid helps cacao beans to lose their bitter taste, and creates the refined cocoa flavor that we are now familiar with. If a cacao bean is not subjected to the sweating process, it retains a taste like a raw potato.

Once the “sweating” is accomplished, the cocoa beans are spread out to dry. This is accomplished by placing the beans on large trays, and drying them with sunlight (or artificial heat). The beans need to be constantly raked, in order to be thoroughly dried. Sun-dried cocoa beans retain the best flavor, as artificial heat drying often leaves behind oil, smoke or propellant flavors. Once dried, the cocoa beans are readied for shipping, and are prepared to be used in cocoa production facilities all over the world.

Marabel Cocoa Farms - cacao beans - Sanchez and Hispaniola cacao beans producer and importer from the Dominican Republic.
Tel: (800) 919-3744
Tel: (626) 446-5995

Rate this Article:

0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s)

Re-Publish

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/chocolate-articles/harvesting-of-cocoa-beans-1055878.html

Article Tags: cocoa beans

Related Videos
Related Articles
Ask / Related Q&A

Play

Italian Bean Salad Recipe

Play

Country Style and Lemon Balsamic Green Beans Recipe

Play

How to Cook Fresh Green Beans

Play

How to Make Black Bean and Corn Salad

Play

How to Make Your Garden Safe for Pets

Latest Chocolate Articles
More from AnneMing

A delightful story about Chocolate

By: Ankur Kumar Gupta | 22/12/2009
For health, Chocolate can be beneficial as well as harmful. Chocolate has many positive effects on health. It helps in the circulation of blood and reduces the risk of heart attack. Moderate consumption of chocolate helps in muscles recovery and brain functioning. The negative effects are obesity risk, acne risk and increase blood sugar which is harmful for diabetic patients.

Chocolate gold coins – yummy, I’m rich!

By: Adolphpaul | 21/12/2009
Having a party at home or going for a party? If you’re wondering what to give away as a favor, nothing can beat chocolate gold coins. A bag full of glittering chocolate gold coins looks attractive and they convey a certain message that is hard to define.

Promotional Sweets: A Popular Way to Increase your Business Reach

By: Article Expert | 17/12/2009
Personalized sweets are more useful for the tradeshows, conferences, seminars and exhibitions. Organizations are usually procuring less costly items to be given as the gift items in such gatherings.

The Best Chocolate Bars in the World

By: Kasan Groupe | 15/12/2009
There are times when you just have to have the best tasting chocolate at your disposal. Ritter and Lindt make the best, and here is why.

German Chocolate Cake - Introducing the Best Chocolate Recipe You've Ever Tasted

By: Markus Allen | 14/12/2009
Are you frustrated with trying to find a tasty German chocolate cake recipe? Let me show you how to bake the most amazing German chocolate cake -- guaranteed to impress your friends and family.

A Guide to Chocolate Candy

By: WALIEK COPELAND | 12/12/2009
Chocolate candy is the most loved, sweetest, and favorite candy. This is one of the sweet endless delights that can be enjoyed to the fullest. Chocolate can be presented in so many ways, shapes, sizes, and with so many additions. Chocolate is also used to coat other delectable desserts such as ice cream and cakes. Given this, it can be expected that chocolate would become more popular among children and adults in the generations to come.

Make this Christmas special by making your own Chocolates

By: cybrtrayd | 11/12/2009
Chocolates are considered to be the most popular gift ever. Its more fun if you make your own chocolates at home using candy molds and other products which are easily available online . Cybrtrayd is one such website where you can choose from large variety of candy molds. The molds included are Christmas molds, Halloween molds, Baby shower molds, Lollystick molds, Easter molds, Thanksgiving molds.

It is very fun and simple to make your own candy at home

By: Paul Ingersole | 08/12/2009
It is very fun and simple to make your own candy at home. You can purchase candy wrappers online or from hobby shops to wrap them up individually. This is great for chocolates and other types of candy that you wish to make for your friends and family. Some people operate a home based business selling their own candy. You can customized the candy wrappers as well, putting your name or business name on them.

What is the Best Canine Heartworm Medicine?

By: AnneMing | 18/12/2009 | Pets
You have a dog and you love it very much. But you are also aware of the fact that there are many diseases that can affect it and you have to make sure you know how to protect it. This can be a hard job for any pet owner.

Generic Heartworm Medication, Dogs’ Heartgard

By: AnneMing | 18/12/2009 | Pets
Heartworm disease is a life threatening disease and can cause a lot of serious problems for your dog. It can also be very hard to cure too. Heartgard for dogs is one way of dealing with this situation.

Canine Heartworm Medicine

By: AnneMing | 18/12/2009 | Pets
There are three ways of administration for the preventative dog heartworm medicine: oral, injection, and spot on or topical treatment. Every one of these methods has its ups and downs but if they are used correctly they will remove the risk of heartworm disease in your dog.

Dog Vomiting - What could make your dog vomit?

By: AnneMing | 18/12/2009 | Pets
If your dog vomits from time to time, it may not be a reason for concern, but when this happens really often, and then it is time to get worried.

Dog Vomiting – When to get worried

By: AnneMing | 18/12/2009 | Pets
When your dog is vomiting it is a sight you do not like to see. This means there is something going on in its happy little world. Most of the times it is a health issue. If vomiting happens from time to time, it may not be reason for concern.

Canine Vomiting – Common causes you should know

By: AnneMing | 18/12/2009 | Pets
Dogs sometimes vomit and there is nothing wrong with that if these episodes don’t occur very often. But the frequent episodes can be a real sign that the dog has a serious problem. There are a lot of causes for dog vomiting and here are the most common ones.

Obama’s new plan to help people with their home loans

By: AnneMing | 23/11/2009 | Loans
With all the foreclosures on the market today, many homeowners have been looking for help with their mortgage loans without much help over the last few months. The Obama administration has released a $75 billion plan to refinance and modify loans for those that need the help to stay in their homes.

Cacao – Starting from Chocolate and going back to Cocoa bean

By: AnneMing | 23/11/2009 | Chocolate
Chocolate is pretty much commonplace in today’s society and can be purchased in a variety of ways from boxed chocolates to candy bars. You will find candy bearing the name of their inventors including Stephen Whitman, Henri Nestlé, Milton Hershey, William Cadbury, Harry Burnett Reese, Forrest Mars, and Theodore Tobler in many different stores.