Cocoa Beans

Cocoa Beans

Cocoa beans are the almond-shaped seeds inside the fruit of the cacao tree, which is called a pod. As we’ll see, it’s an essential raw ingredient in the chocolate production chain.

Cocoa pods grow on cacao trees (Theobroma cacao). This small tree of Mexican origin blossoms all year round. Its flowers are white and pink, but only some will produce fruit – about 1 out of every 500, in fact. Cocoa beans are the starting point for all chocolate production. You can use the beans to make you own dark or milk chocolate bars. What’s more, if you love powerful, sophisticated bitter flavors, you can eat cocoa beans raw like you would a nut.