Chocolate is considered a gift from the gods. It is highly regarded and adored the world over. It has a reputation as being one of the most sought after food in the planet. Monarchs and the royalty from all over the world were the first to enjoy this heavenly treat. However, it was people from South America, the Aztecs and the Mayans, who were first to discover Cacao as they have this naturally growing in their backyards. Chocolate would never see its popularity had it not been for cocoa crops and cocoa farming. It is no secret that cocoa is the most basic ingredient of chocolate. Without cocoa, chocolate would not be the way we know it to be as chocolate is, in fact, made from cacao beans.
Cocoa originated in the Amazon region. This explains why earlier myths about chocolate always involved South American culture and myths. The cacao plant was introduced to the Spaniards when they arrived to conquer the region. This arrival signals the beginning of cacao plant introduction and farming to the rest of the world.
The Spaniards are the ones held responsible for the introduction of the cacao plant to the rest of the world. The Spaniards introduced it to Europe which beckons the rise of the plant’s popularity in the region, keeping in mind that cocoa beans are the main ingredient of chocolate. Eventually, the cacao plant was introduced to Asia, in the West Indies and the Philippines—both of which are countries which were colonized by the Spaniards.
As with any crop farming, the habitat and the location pretty much determines the success of the crop farming. Cocoa plants and crops are located in the Pacific region, spread across the Caribbean, in Mexico and in a good portion of the South American region. Netherlands, which happens to be the biggest cocoa producer in the world, also has notable cocoa crops.
Cocoa crops demand a lot of shade, highly humid places, and consistent rainfall, which is why they grow well in tropical regions located around the equator. Shade is one of the important things to be considered when cocoa farming, as the shade is one which determines and helps control the temperature of the plant growth. High temperatures may affect the characteristics and the yield of the cocoa beans. It is important to control this as the characteristics and the flavour of the cocoa crops for farming greatly affects the flavour of the cocoa beans and eventually the flavour of the chocolates.
The cocoa beans are the most important parts of the cocoa plant as this is the main ingredient used for making chocolates. The conditions it must be subjected in remains to be that which must be controlled and looked after.
Cocoa beans are very important not just for chocolate, as it is even used in other forms of cooking. However, chocolate remains to be the most popular and sought after products of cocoa. Perhaps because of the luxury attached to it or the sheer delectable taste of the treat. Whatever it may be, chocolate will remain to be one of the most enjoyed treats in the world over.