Buy Organic Cacao - Florida Spice Shop

CACAO BEANS AND POWDER

Buy Now On Sale At Florida Herb House And Spice Shop!! The cacao tree (Theobroma Cacao) is grown in the tropics in a band between 10 to 20 degrees north and south of the equator, sometimes called the "Cocoa Belt". The tree is often grown in the shades of other trees. It can be as tall as 40 feet (12 meters), and has fruits (pods) which are more than on foot (30 cm) long. The fruits may be brownish-yellow to purple, and contain 20-40 seeds or cacao beans in a pink, sweet-sour pulp. The cacao tree is cultivated in many countries, but today the leading suppliers are Ivory Coast, Ghana, Indonesia, Nigeria, Brazil, Cameroon, Ecuador, Dominican Republic and Papua New Guinea.

The flavor of the cacao beans is not only dependent on the variety, but also on the soil, temperature, sunshine and rainfall. It is now possible to buy chocolates made with cacao beans from one single region and thus compare the aromas; these chocolates are often called specialty chocolates, in contrast to ordinary chocolate which are made with mostly cheap cacao beans from several regions and with more than one cacao variety. The Aztecs used the cocoa bean to produce a beverage called xocoatl. The cocoa bean was introduced to Spain in the 16th century. The first chocolate bar was made in Switzerland in 1819, and in 1875 the milk chocolate was invented. For more information about this history of cocoa and chocolate

Picture Cacao beans

The cacao fruits are opened and the pulp and seeds are transferred to larger containers. This is either performed by farmers, plantation workers, or in large cocoa factories where it can be done by machines. The cacao beans are later transferred to wooden crates or baskets with banana leaves in between and on top to enable an optimal fermentation. The duration of the fermentation depends on the variety and is from 2 to more than 7 days. The length of the fermentation also affects the aroma, so if well-developed aroma is wanted the beans are fermentation for a longer time.

The drying process takes 1-2 weeks, and during that period the color changes from reddish brown to dark brown. The beans are then polished by a machine to obtain an improved visual appearance. Previously the beans were polished by "dancing the cacao beans"; the dancers polished the beans with their feet in a dance-like manner.The cacao beans are then packed for domestic consumption or for export to cocoa and chocolate manufacturers. Before making cocoa and chocolate the beans are roasted to develop the final chocolate flavor. The temperature and time of roasting affects the flavor and color of the chocolate. Finally the shells are removed ("winnowed") from the roasted beans, and the beans are ready for making chocolate paste, cocoa, cocoa butter and chocolate.

To Buy This Great Spice At Our Ebay Store Click Below! We Guarantee The Freshest Dried Spices Around! We Keep All Our Culinary Herbs And Spices In Climate Controlled Rooms Sealed In Our Exclusive Reusable, Resealable Foil Packets!

Buy It Now At Ebay!

To Make Multiple Purchases With One Low Shipping Rate Go To www.SharpWebLabs.com
or Click Here!