What is a cocoa pod called?

Also called chocolate tree. 2. The seed of this plant, used in making chocolate, cocoa, and cocoa butter. Also called cacao bean, cocoa bean.

What size color and shape are the cacao pods?

Cacao fruits: harvesting the pods A mature tree may produce 6,000 flowers in a year, yet only 20 pods. Cacao trees bear 20-30 large egg-shaped pods per year, each of which are about 20cm long and ripen to a rich orange-red colour.

How much does a cocoa farmer earn a year?

The average cocoa farm will produce one or two tonnes of cocoa beans a year; one tonne is 16 sacks of cocoa. The average farmer will make between $1,400-$2,000 profit a year, at most about $5 a day, which will need to support 6-10 dependants.

Does cacao have side effects?

Cocoa contains caffeine and related chemicals. Eating large amounts might cause caffeine-related side effects such as nervousness, increased urination, sleeplessness, and a fast heartbeat. Cocoa can cause allergic skin reactions, constipation, and might trigger migraine headaches.

How big is the rind of a cocoa pod?

They are the basis of chocolate. A cocoa pod has a rough and leathery rind about 3 cm thick, which is filled with sweet, mucilaginous pulp. In general, chocolate and cocoa are considered to be a rich source of antioxidants such as procyanidins and flavonoids, which may impart antiaging properties.

How tall does the Theobroma cacao tree grow?

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 the Americas. Its seeds, cocoa beans, are used to make cocoa mass, cocoa powder, confectionery, ganache and chocolate.

How many seeds are in a cocoa pod?

Cocoa pods contain about 35–45 seeds consisting of the embryo and the shell, which is covered when ripe by a mucilaginous pulp, the endocarp (Figure 1 ). The main parts of the embryo are two folded cotyledons connected by a small embryonic axis. A rudimentary, skin-like endosperm covers the surface of the embryo.

How can you tell when Cacao pods are ripe?

Cacao picking is a difficult task. And one of the biggest challenges lies in telling when the pods are ripe. Under-ripe cacao won’t have developed all its flavors and aromas. The International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) explains that over-ripe ones will start to germinate. Pods don’t ripen at the same time – even those on the same tree.