What countries grow cacao?
Top 10 cocoa producing countries in the world
- Ivory Coast. The Ivory Coast is by far the largest cocoa producing country in the world supplying over 30% of the world’s cocoa beans at 2,034,000 tonnes in 2017.
- Ghana. Cocoa is the main cash crop of Ghana taking up an estimated 1.9 million hectares of land and supporting over 800,000 people that make a living out of ...
- Indonesia. ...
- Nigeria. ...
- Cameroon. ...
Where on Earth are cacao farms generally found?
cacao, ( Theobroma cacao ), also called cocoa, tropical evergreen tree (family Malvaceae) grown for its edible seeds, whose scientific name means “food of the gods” in Greek. Native to lowland rainforests of the Amazon and Orinoco river basins, cacao is grown commercially in the New World tropics as well as western Africa and tropical Asia.
Where in the world are cacao trees grown?
The production of cocoa begins in the tropical regions around the Equator, where the hot and humid climate is well suited for growing cocoa trees. 70% of the world’s cocoa beans come from four West African countries: Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon.
Are cocoa trees found in a rainforest?
The cacao tree, or ‘Theobroma cacao’ – Theobroma meaning “food of the gods” in Latin – is a tree that grows in the Amazon Rainforest and other tropical areas of the Americas.
Is cacao native to Africa?
History. The cacao tree is native to the Amazon rainforest. It was first domesticated 5,300 years ago, in equatorial South America, before being introduced in Central America by the Olmecs (Mexico).
Where does cacao tree live?
Native to lowland rainforests of the Amazon and Orinoco river basins, cacao is grown commercially in the New World tropics as well as western Africa and tropical Asia. Its seeds, called cocoa beans, are processed into cocoa powder, cocoa butter, and chocolate.
Where do wild cacao trees grow?
They are native to the Amazon basin in South and Central America where they still grow wild in the rain-forests. The cacao tree has also been introduced as a crop plant into many tropical African and Asian countries.
Can you grow cacao in the US?
Growing cacao trees requires mimicking these conditions. In the United States, that means the tree can only be grown in USDA zones 11-13 – Hawaii, parts of southern Florida, and southern California as well as tropical Puerto Rico.
Can I grow a cacao tree?
The trees thrive in warm, humid climates, as well as in greenhouses, and they can live for several decades. Cacao trees are evergreen, maintaining their foliage year-round....How to Grow Cacao.Botanical NameTheobroma cacaoMature Size20–30 ft. tall and wideSun ExposureFull, partialSoil TypeLoamy, moist, well-drained8 more rows•Jul 22, 2021
What is the difference between cacao and cocoa?
Cacao is the raw, unprocessed version of cocoa. Both can benefit your health, but it's best to stick to either the raw version, cacao, or a chocolate product that has a high chocolate liquor content. Raw cacao can take some getting used to. It tastes a little different than cocoa products and can be slightly bitter.
Do any animals eat cacao?
Inside are the cacao seeds-the source of chocolate. Monkeys, bats, and squirrels eat the sweet pulp surrounding the seeds, which are then spit out as the animals travel through the rainforest.
How long does it take for cacao to fruit?
It takes about 5 years (from seed) for a cacao tree to grow mature and start producing cacao pods.
Do cacao trees grow in the rainforest?
The cacao (kuh-KOW) tree! Cacao trees are grown in the shade of the rainforest, or sometimes on plantations, in Africa and Central America. A cacao tree must be at least five years old before it flowers. Small insects called midges pollinate the flowers so the fruit can grow.
What climate does cocoa grow in?
Cacao trees only prosper under specific conditions, including fairly uniform temperatures, high humidity, abundant rain, nitrogen-rich soil, and protection from wind. In short, cacao trees thrive in rainforests. Chocolate is now grown around the globe—typically within 10° north and south of the equator.
How do cacao trees survive in the rainforest?
As mentioned on the Habitat page, cacao trees live under the shade of taller rainforest trees. Theobroma cacao uses this shade to protect its very delicate seeds from sunburn along with wind protection.
Is cocoa and cacao the same?
Cacao is the raw, unprocessed version of cocoa. Both can benefit your health, but it's best to stick to either the raw version, cacao, or a chocolate product that has a high chocolate liquor content. Raw cacao can take some getting used to. It tastes a little different than cocoa products and can be slightly bitter.
Where is cacao found?
T. cacao is widely distributed from southeastern Mexico to the Amazon basin. There were originally two hypotheses about its domestication; one said that there were two foci for domestication, one in the Lacandon Jungle area of Mexico and another in lowland South America.
How tall is a cacao tree?
Closed and open blossom and fruits on the trunk of Theobroma cacao ( ÖBG Bayreuth) Theobroma cacao, also called the cacao tree and the cocoa tree, is a small (4–8 m (13–26 ft) tall) evergreen tree in the family Malvaceae, native to the deep tropical regions of Mesoamerica.
What are the three cultivars of cacao beans?
Historically, chocolate makers have recognized three main cultivar groups of cacao beans used to make cocoa and chocolate : Forastero, Criollo and Trinitario. The most prized, rare, and expensive is the Criollo group, the cocoa bean used by the Maya. Only 10% of chocolate is made from Criollo, which is arguably less bitter and more aromatic than any other bean. In November 2000, the cacao beans coming from Chuao were awarded an appellation of origin under the title Cacao de Chuao (from Spanish: 'cacao of Chuao').
How are cacao flowers pollinated?
The floral formula, used to represent the structure of a flower using numbers, is ✶ K5 C5 A (5°+5 2) G (5). While many of the world's flowers are pollinated by bees ( Hymenoptera) or butterflies / moths ( Lepidoptera ), cacao flowers are pollinated by tiny flies, Forcipomyia midges in the subfamily Forcipomyiinae. Using the natural pollinator Forcipomyia midges for Theobroma cacao was shown to have more fruit production than using artificial pollinators. The fruit, called a cacao pod, is ovoid, 15–30 cm (5.9–11.8 in) long and 8–10 cm (3.1–3.9 in) wide, ripening yellow to orange, and weighs about 500 g (1.1 lb) when ripe. The pod contains 20 to 60 seeds, usually called "beans", embedded in a white pulp. The seeds are the main ingredient of chocolate, while the pulp is used in some countries to prepare refreshing juice, smoothies, jelly, and cream. Usually discarded until practices changed in the 21st century, the fermented pulp may be distilled into an alcoholic beverage. Each seed contains a significant amount of fat (40–50%) as cocoa butter. The fruit's active constituent is the stimulant theobromine, a compound similar to caffeine.
What is cacao used for?
Cacao beans constituted both a ritual beverage and a major currency system in pre-Columbian Mesoamerican civilizations. At one point, the Aztec empire received a yearly tribute of 980 loads ( Classical Nahuatl: xiquipilli) of cacao, in addition to other goods. Each load represented exactly 8,000 beans. The buying power of quality beans was such that 80–100 beans could buy a new cloth mantle. The use of cacao beans as currency is also known to have spawned counterfeiters during the Aztec empire.
How big is a cacao pod?
The fruit, called a cacao pod, is ovoid, 15–30 cm (5.9–11.8 in) long and 8–10 cm (3.1–3.9 in) wide, ripening yellow to orange, and weighs about 500 g (1.1 lb) when ripe.
What is the name of the plant that is a part of the mallow family?
Cacao ( Theobroma cacao) belongs to the genus Theobroma classified under the subfamily Byttnerioideae of the mallow family Malvaceae. Cacao is one of 17 species of Theobroma.
Where is cacao grown?
Native to lowland rainforests of the Amazon and Orinoco river basins, cacao is grown commercially in the New World tropics as well as western Africa and tropical Asia.
Where did cacao originate?
Cacao, native to the Amazon region and the source of cocoa, was prized by indigenous peoples and is still cultivated in many parts of South America, particularly in the state of Bahia, Brazil. Avocados also originated in the same region. Pineapples, probably indigenous to southern…
What causes a cacao tree to die?
Asian cacao trees are affected by a fungus ( Oncobasidium theobroma) that causes the tree to dry out, starting from the branch tips—a condition called vascular streak dieback. Swollen shoot is a viral disease transmitted to the plant by mealybugs that has devastated Ghanaian and Nigerian cocoa crops.
How long does it take for cacao to ripen?
The pods, or cherelles, range in colour from bright yellow to deep purple. They ripen in less than six months to a length up to 35 cm (14 inches) and a width at the centre of 12 cm (4.7 inches). Each pod has numerous ridges running along its length and holds 20 to 60 seeds, or cocoa beans, arranged around the long axis of the pod. The oval seeds are about 2.5 cm (1 inch) long and are covered with a sweet sticky white pulp.
What is cocoa bean?
Its seeds, called cocoa beans, are processed into cocoa powder, cocoa butter, and chocolate. This article treats the cultivation of the cacao plant. For information on the processing of cocoa and the history of its use, see the article cocoa. cacao fruits. Fruits growing from the trunk of a cacao tree ( Theobroma cacao ).
What is cocoa pod borer?
In Southeast Asia the cocoa pod borer, the larva of mosquito-like insect, is a common pest. Research is being done to develop disease-resistant varieties and effective biological control methods for insect pests. L. Russell Cook The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica.
What causes black pods on cacao trees?
The most commonly destructive diseases of the cacao tree are pod rots. A pod rot called black pod is caused by a fungus ( Phytophthora) that spreads rapidly on the pods under conditions of excessive rain and humidity, insufficient sunshine, and temperatures below 21 °C (70 °F).
Where do cacao trees grow?
We also grow cacao trees here at Kew. They are native to the tropical rainforests of South America and love high humidity so they thrive in our Palm House and Princess of Wales Conservatory.
Where did cacao originate?
They were first consumed in Central and South America as a liquid treat mixed with spices like chilli and vanilla. The flesh of cacao fruit has a tropical taste like passion fruit and mango. It is used in some countries as an ingredient in juices, smoothies, jellies, jams, and ice creams.
What does cacao taste like?
The flesh of cacao fruit has a tropical taste like passion fruit and mango. It is used in some countries as an ingredient in juices, smoothies, jellies, jams, and ice creams.
Why is cacao tree called cauliflory?
The cacao tree is unusual because it produces flowers directly on its trunk and branches, rather than on new shoots. This flowering method is called cauliflory. The Latin name Theobroma means 'food of the gods'.
Why is cacao unusual?
The cacao tree is unusual because it produces flowers directly on its trunk and branches, rather than on new shoots. This flowering method is called cauliflory.
What is the substance that makes chocolate?
The beans are fermented, dried, roasted, husked, and then ground up to make a thick paste called chocolate liquor which is the basis of all chocolate products. Different types of chocolate are made by mixing ingredients like sugar and milk with chocolate liquor.
How hot is cacao?
Our cacao trees are kept at 22 to 24˚C during the day and 18˚C during the night.
Where does cocoa come from?
Everything you need to know about the cocoa tree. Cocoa is the source of all the different types of chocolate found on the market today. It is made from the fruit of the cocoa tree (Theobroma cacao). The tree has been cultivated for centuries by the Maya, and over time, has spread to tropical regions in the Americas, Africa, Asia and Oceania.
Where are Trinitario cocoa trees grown?
The different varieties of this group of trees are cultivated in many countries, such as Venezuela, Brazil, Mexico and Cameroon. The Trinitario trees have red pods, like the Criollo, which turn orange as they ripen.
How many cocoa beans are in a pod?
The cocoa beans of these cacao trees contain a large amount of tannin. This type of tree has 30 to 40 cocoa beans per pod.
What is a Criollo tree?
Criollo cocoa trees stand out for the flavor of their beans. In fact, this family of cacao trees is highly appreciated by chocolate makers for the preparation of luxury products.
Why are Forastero trees so common?
The Amazonian Forastero are so common on cocoa farms because of their resistance to disease and because they mature quickly. This type of cocoa tree has other advantages such as its vigor and high productivity. Forastero trees grow in West Africa, Central America, North and South America, Brazil and Ecuador.
What is cocoa beans used for?
After being harvested, the cocoa beans must be dried and roasted before becoming the raw material used to make chocolate.
Why is cocoa not produced?
Although the sweet flavor of these beans is appreciated in the industry, it isn't produced in large quantities by farmers because these trees are fragile and susceptible to diseases. Today, this type of cocoa tree is much less present on the cocoa market (barely 0.1% of the world production) compared to other species.
What is cacao tree?
Back to Top. Cacao trees ( Theobroma cacao) are the source of many beloved products, including chocolate, cocoa butter, chocolate liquor, and cocoa solids. The trees thrive in warm, humid climates, as well as in greenhouses, and they can live for several decades.
How much sun does a cacao tree need?
Cacao trees can grow in full sun to partial shade, meaning they need at least three hours of direct sunlight on most days. But they will appreciate some shade from the strong afternoon sun, which can scorch their leaves.
How to keep cacao plants healthy?
Adding a layer of mulch over its root area can help to maintain adequate soil moisture. Plan to water and fertilize your cacao tree regularly, as this is a plant that likes lots of food and moisture. Cacao trees don’t typically have any serious issues with pests or diseases.
Which cocoa tree is the most hardy?
Forastero: This group accounts for the vast majority of cocoa production, as its trees have a high yield and are quite hardy and resistant to disease.
When is the best time to plant cacao seeds?
These trees have a fairly slow growth rate, and it can take around five years before they produce seed pods. The best time to plant is in the spring or fall. Featured Video. Botanical Name. Theobroma cacao. Common Names.
Can you grow cacao trees outside?
Cacao trees are not easy to grow, especially if you want to cultivate them outside of their natural environment. Occasionally growers keep them as houseplants. But it is very difficult to provide them with the proper light and humidity levels indoors, and they often won’t ever produce seed pods.
Do cacao trees need water?
Cacao trees prefer consistent soil moisture. But be careful not to water so much that the soil remains soggy, as this can rot the tree’s roots. Water whenever the top inch of soil has dried out.
Why is cacao considered sacred?
In these early years, the cacao tree and its beans were treated with the utmost reverence and respect, considered magical, even sacred. Roasted, fermented and mixed with spices to produce a frothy beverage, this cacao bean concoction was thought to give immense power and energy to the consumer, and it was often used in religious ceremonies such as marriage and birth. Eventually, the cacao bean had become so valuable throughout these early American cultures that it was used as a form of currency.
Where did chocolate originate?
Its origins stretch back thousands of years to the early Mesoamerican cultures of North, Central and South America, where the cacao tree is native. The word “chocolate” itself is believed to be derived from the Aztec word “xocoatl,” which referred to the bitter drink consumed by the Aztec people. Cocoa played a significant role in the cultural and economic development of these regions, and has been integral to the religious and social lives of their peoples.
When did chocolate become available?
It wasn’t until the Industrial Revolution of the 1800’s that chocolate became available to the public. Advances in machinery allowed for large quantities of cacao to be processed into cocoa powder, which could then be mixed with sugar, milk and other products to make all the delicious chocolate treats we know today.
Overview
History of cultivation
Cultivation, use, and cultural elaboration of cacao were early and extensive in Mesoamerica. Ceramic vessels with residues from the preparation of cacao beverages have been found at archaeological sites dating back to the Early Formative (1900–900 BC) period. For example, one such vessel found at an Olmec archaeological site on the Gulf Coast of Veracruz, Mexico dates cacao's preparation by pre-Olmec peoples as early as 1750 BC. On the Pacific coast of Chiapas, …
Description
Leaves are alternate, entire, unlobed, 10–50 cm (4–20 in) long and 5–10 cm (2–4 in) broad.
The flowers are produced in clusters directly on the trunk and older branches; this is known as cauliflory. The flowers are small, 1–2 cm (3⁄8–13⁄16 in) diameter, with pink calyx. The floral formula, used to represent the structure of a flower using numbers, is ✶ K5 C5 A(5°+5 ) G(5). While many of the world's flowers are pollinated by bees (Hymenoptera) or butterflies/moths (Lepidoptera), ca…
Taxonomy and nomenclature
Cacao (Theobroma cacao) belongs to the genus Theobroma classified under the subfamily Byttnerioideae of the mallow family Malvaceae. Cacao is one of 17 species of Theobroma.
In 2008, researchers proposed a new classification based upon morphological, geographic, and genomic criteria: 10 groups have been named according to their geographic origin or the traditional cultivar name. These groups are: Amelonado, Criollo, Nacional, Contamana, Curaray, Cacao gui…
Distribution and domestication
T. cacao is widely distributed from southeastern Mexico to the Amazon basin. There were originally two hypotheses about its domestication; one said that there were two foci for domestication, one in the Lacandon Jungle area of Mexico and another in lowland South America. More recent studies of patterns of DNA diversity, however, suggest that this is not the case. One study sampled 1241 trees and classified them into 10 distinct genetic clusters. This study also identified areas, for ex…
Cultivation
In 2016, cocoa beans were cultivated on roughly 10,196,725 hectares (25,196,660 acres) worldwide. Cocoa beans are grown by large agroindustrial plantations and small producers, the bulk of production coming from millions of farmers with small plots. A tree begins to bear when it is four or five years old. A mature tree may have 6,000 flowers in a year, yet only about 20 pods. About 1,200 seeds (40 pods) are required to produce 1 kg (2.2 lb) of cocoa paste.
Conservation
The pests and diseases to which cacao is subject, along with climate change, mean that new varieties will be needed to respond to these challenges. Breeders rely on the genetic diversity conserved in field genebanks to create new varieties, because cacao has recalcitrant seeds that cannot be stored in a conventional genebank. In an effort to improve the diversity available to breeders, and ensure the future of the field genebanks, experts have drawn up A Global Strateg…
Genome
The genome of T. cacao is diploid, its size is 430 Mbp, and it comprises 10 chromosome pairs (2n=2x=20). In September 2010, a team of scientists announced a draft sequence of the cacao genome (Matina1-6 genotype). In a second, unrelated project, the International Cocoa Genome Sequencing Consortium-ICGS, co-ordinated by CIRAD, first published in December 2010 (online, paper publication in January 2011), the sequence of the cacao genome, of the Criollo cacao (of …