*Scholarship Sundays* - The Cacao Tree

{Starting today, the beginning of every week will have a little bit of enlightenment which I call will Scholarship Sundays. All things related to the history, the science and any other relevant information regarding chocolate will be presented for your awareness.}

The Cacao Tree (Theobromo Cacao)

Chocolate is made from the cocoa bean, which grows on tropical cacao trees. Originally from South America, the agriculture of the theobromo cacao has been spread throughout the world.

The cultivation is also in regions such as the Caribbean, parts of Asia and Africa. The majority of the world’s chocolate comes from farms in Africa’s Ivory Coast (Cote D'Ivorie) and Ghana, where cacao tree farms are cultivated for mass production.

The tree grows best under a shade of other taller trees. It enjoys constant warm temperatures, therefore cannot be grown more than 10-15 degrees away from the Equator.

It was the Mayan’s who first realized the versatility of the cacao tree when they were able to make the first chocolate drink from grinded cocoa beans. Only the sovereign had the privilege to drink the delicious chocolate drink.
The Mayan people also used the cocoa beans from the tree as currency in their day-to-day life.

The cacao tree, or theobromo cacao is literally translated in latin to ‘food of the gods’. Whoever named the tree was definitely a chocolate lover!