You may already know that we get chocolates from cocoa beans. But did you also know that out of 200 years it takes a tree about 25 years to produce pods?
Here are 19 awesome facts about cocoa:
- December 13th is National Cocoa Day.
- The tree takes about five years to produce its first seed pods.
- Cocoa was first exported to Europe in the year 1585.
- The first chocolate bar was made in the year 1848.
- Theobroma is the Latin name for cocoa; it means “food of the gods.”
- The trees live as long as 200 years but only produce quality pods for 25 years.
- The trees also need to be planted next to tall trees in order to protect them from direct sunlight.
- Flavonoid-rich cocoa is effective in lowering blood pressure and improving the elasticity of blood vessels.
- The consumption of cocoa powder has also shown to be effective in improving insulin resistance and glucose metabolism.
- The bean shells are an effective and nourishing fertiliser.
- It contains antioxidants that help repair skin cells and neutralize the effects of free radicals.
- It requires about 400 cocoa beans to make a pound of chocolate.
- The United States is the biggest importer of cocoa seeds.
- Cocoa beans were once used as currency by the Aztecs in Mexico.
- Cocoa pods are the fruits of the Cacao tree.
- The reason why the beans are being called cocoa and not cacao beans is due to a spelling mistake made by the English exporters in the 18th century.
- People have been consuming cocoa for 4,000 years.
- The soil that the cocoa tree grows on influences the taste of the beans, this explains why chocolates have different taste.
- West Africa produces more cocoa than any other region in the world.
Sources: Organifacts.net and Amp.health.com
Featured image: realfoods.co.uk