Everything has its origin. Did you know that even the process of making chocolate has a history? This may be your favorite thing to do now on your pastime. Or you may be even addicted to the taste of such treat. But this piece will not add up to that craving as it tries to give you a better view as to how it all started.
The Theobroma Cacao or the food from the Gods is what you all know as the cocoa tree. Its origin can be traced on America's rainforests, specifically in Central America. But historians are still debating about certain facts about this tree.
Xocolat, Anyone?
There are arguments that the Mayans first grew such tree in 300 AD. And the Aztecs had their turn in cultivating such in 1100 AD. The chocolate that you all know now used to be called Xocolat. This was a special beverage that was made out of chilies, anise seed, vanilla, cornmeal and some more spices. Only royalties get to be treated with such delight at the time. It was served using golden cups that were to be used only once.
Save that Cacaos and chocolates
The cocoa tree is sensitive to its surroundings. It will most likely grow in the shades of the canopy of the rainforest. For this reason, chocolate lovers must unite in the goal of saving the environment, especially in saving the rainforests where the cacaos will most likely survive.
This tree is unique in the sense that its fruits grow on its branches and trunk. The reason for this is because of midges. These are the tiny insects that cause the pollination process during nighttime.
Well there is a fact that is once again really amazing about this cocoa tree that it can have somewhat 10,000 blossoms but do you know how many would get mature into fruits or pods? The number of mature fruits or pods is only 10 - 50. The cocoa tree is very intelligent and thus makes the blossams into fruits to that amount which it can handle and grow, just like an intelligent person.
The cacao tree self regulates in this process to be able to sustain its good health. It knows what it can contain and handle. It knows just how many is enough and too much. The tree does this to preserve its internal systems and to prevent its branches from breaking or falling apart.
The cocoa beans come from the fruit or the pod from the intelligent tree. Harvesters wait for the pod to ripen. They will handpick the trees and crack up the pods until they see white pulpy elements that surround the seeds. The pulps are then trashed while the seeds are kept because those are your cocoa beans, the source of your chocolate treats.
These seeds will be passed the process of fermentation because in the beginning they are bitter in taste. The process takes 3-7 days. This will change both their chemical and physical existence. This will now be used for the purpose of treating the royals, the Xocolat.
There are many processes from which the beans have to go through after which they can finally be used to make out chocolates in the primitive way. As now you have come to know where and how these seeds come from and chocolate is made you might not have the perspective of while looking at your chocolate, the one you had before. Still chocolate has been in hearts for years and would be the dearest treat of every children for many years to come.
The Theobroma Cacao or the food from the Gods is what you all know as the cocoa tree. Its origin can be traced on America's rainforests, specifically in Central America. But historians are still debating about certain facts about this tree.
Xocolat, Anyone?
There are arguments that the Mayans first grew such tree in 300 AD. And the Aztecs had their turn in cultivating such in 1100 AD. The chocolate that you all know now used to be called Xocolat. This was a special beverage that was made out of chilies, anise seed, vanilla, cornmeal and some more spices. Only royalties get to be treated with such delight at the time. It was served using golden cups that were to be used only once.
Save that Cacaos and chocolates
The cocoa tree is sensitive to its surroundings. It will most likely grow in the shades of the canopy of the rainforest. For this reason, chocolate lovers must unite in the goal of saving the environment, especially in saving the rainforests where the cacaos will most likely survive.
This tree is unique in the sense that its fruits grow on its branches and trunk. The reason for this is because of midges. These are the tiny insects that cause the pollination process during nighttime.
Well there is a fact that is once again really amazing about this cocoa tree that it can have somewhat 10,000 blossoms but do you know how many would get mature into fruits or pods? The number of mature fruits or pods is only 10 - 50. The cocoa tree is very intelligent and thus makes the blossams into fruits to that amount which it can handle and grow, just like an intelligent person.
The cacao tree self regulates in this process to be able to sustain its good health. It knows what it can contain and handle. It knows just how many is enough and too much. The tree does this to preserve its internal systems and to prevent its branches from breaking or falling apart.
The cocoa beans come from the fruit or the pod from the intelligent tree. Harvesters wait for the pod to ripen. They will handpick the trees and crack up the pods until they see white pulpy elements that surround the seeds. The pulps are then trashed while the seeds are kept because those are your cocoa beans, the source of your chocolate treats.
These seeds will be passed the process of fermentation because in the beginning they are bitter in taste. The process takes 3-7 days. This will change both their chemical and physical existence. This will now be used for the purpose of treating the royals, the Xocolat.
There are many processes from which the beans have to go through after which they can finally be used to make out chocolates in the primitive way. As now you have come to know where and how these seeds come from and chocolate is made you might not have the perspective of while looking at your chocolate, the one you had before. Still chocolate has been in hearts for years and would be the dearest treat of every children for many years to come.
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