Cultivation of cocoa beans

The cocoa bean grows in large pods on the cocoa tree, Theobroma cacao, a green plant that thrives in tropical cocoa trees between 20 ° north and 20 ° south of the equator.

The tree is very demanding; he does not greet too high, cold or dry places, he has to be protected from wind, sun and food. He is also hypersensitive to various rot and fungal diseases. Traditionally, cocoa beans are grown in the shelter of taller trees, which corresponds to its habitat in the jungle. In areas such as Grenada and parts of Jamaica, it grows without shelter if there is sufficient moisture and nutrients in the ground. it is about the size of an apple tree and bears fruit from the third year onwards.With a bit of luck he does this for 20 years, the trees can grow to 100 years old.4 The shiny dark green leaves, similar to those of laurel, become 30 cm long.

 

The small pale pink flowers grow in dense clusters on the trunk and on the main branches on a kind of raised cushions. After the pollination, the flowers develop in about 5 months to pods. The pods turn from bright red to green, purple and yellow as they ripen. Ripe pods are about 20cm long oval and pointed and each contain twenty to veetig beans in a bed of white soft pulp.