WORLD'S FAVOURITE SNACK
Chocolate is irresistible. Place a bar of chocolate in front of a child and before long, it will have been eaten up. Chocolate is a popular gift during Christmas, Easter and Valentine's Day. There are chocolate Santas, chocolate Easter eggs, chocolate hearts ... the list goes on and on.
Chocolate comes from cocoa beans. They were first discovered over 2,000 years ago. According to one theory, the Olmecs of Mexico were the first humans to consume cocoa beans by crushing them and mixing them with water and spices to make their own special hot cocoa drink.
Cocoa beans in a cocoa pod. There are about 20 to 40 cocoa beans in a cocoa pod. AFP PHOTO / YASUYOSHI CHIBA
Cocoa beans grow in pods that hang from cocoa trees. Each pod contains 20 to 40 cocoa beans. When the pods are harvested, the cocoa beans are removed and left to ferment.
During fermentation, which lasts 2 to 5 days, chemical changes will take place in the cocoa beans and cause the chocolate flavour and colour to develop. Next, the cocoa beans will go through a drying process for 1 to 2 weeks.
Cocoa factory workers select cocoa beans. AFP PHOTO / RODRIGO BUENDIA
After drying, the beans are packed and taken to factories for cleaning and roasting. The roasted beans are then ground into a thick chocolatey liquid called chocolate liquor. When it cools, it becomes solidified. This solidified form is made up of two important components called cocoa butter and cocoa solids. These are the basic ingredients for all chocolate and cocoa products that you find in supermarkets.
These cocoa beans will be made into delicious chocolate. AFP PHOTO / RODRIGO BUENDIA
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Featured image: A Valentine's Day teddy bear made of chocolate. Joe Raedle/Getty Images/AFP
