Where Does Chocolate Come From

Where does chocolate come from? Cacao trees grow in the tropics in a belt from twenty degrees above the equator to twenty degrees below the equator. The trees grow in damp tropical areas where there is lots of rain fall.

Cacao trees need to be protected from direct sunlight. From the time the tree is planted until it begins to bear fruit is any where from three to six years. The pods or fruit that grows on the tree is an oval shaped pod measuring from eight to twelve inches in length.

Each pod contains ten to sixty beans. It is a little strange how the fruit grows on the tree. It doesn't grow from the most tender branches, it grows directly out of the trunk of the tree, and directly out of the bark of the most mature branches

The cacao tree flowers year round so the fruit is harvested all year long. The ripened cacao pods are opened generally with a machete, very carefully so as not to harm the beans inside.

The cocoa beans are then gathered into piles and covered and left to ferment for from three to eight days depending on the region and the variety of cacao tree the beans were harvested from.

The cacao beans during fermentation turn a golden brown color and at this point begin to smell like chocolate. Where does chocolate come from now. After fermentation process, the cocoa beans are spread out to dry. Then they are bagged and shipped off to the exporters.

After arriving at the exporters warehouses the beans are dumped and spread out for further drying. Then they are graded and bagged and then shipped to buyers from all over the world.

Now where does chocolate come from: The kind we love to eat?

The buyers of the cacao beans are the chocolate processors who make the cacao beans into all kind of chocolate. The chocolate we are familiar with are the sweet candies that we love to eat. But there are other kinds, like bakers chocolate, chocolate syrups. cocoa powder and so forth.

Recently we have been hearing that the right kinds of chocolate are good for us. It said that the vitamins and minerals in cold processed chocolate have positive benefits in the fight against cancer and heart disease and sugar diabetes. Three of the most deadly medical problems in the western world today.

Healthy chocolate, is cold processed chocolate and it's loaded with antioxidants. The ORAC value [oxygen radical absorption capacity] is the highest in cold processed chocolate. The USDA has measured the ORAC at 82,000, there are only two other foods on their list that are higher in antioxidants.

If you are concerned about your health and like to eat healthy and you love chocolate choose cold processed chocolate. The one my family eats is Xocai chocolate. Even persons with diabetes can eat it with absolutely no problems.

Now you know where does chocolate come from I want you to know, I am also a professional network marketing guide. I offer a free one hour consultation to anyone starting out in internet marketing or to anyone wanting to learn about web 2.0 attraction marketing.

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Good health to you