|
|
Kakaovník
 Cocoa
beans come from Amazon and Orinoco rainforest tree Theobroma cacao ( name
was given by swedish botanist Carl von Linné ). This tree needs shade so
usually grows under rainforest trees near rivers. About 3 or 4 thousand
years ago cocoa tree was cultivated and spread out to central America.
The tree grows up to 15m height ( if cultivated only about 8m to easier
harvesting ). Theobroma cacao can live up to 100 years. Cacao leaves
are bright green, about 15 cm long and 8 cm wide. Stabile temperature between
21 °C to 32°C is needed and a lot of rain during year. Cocoa tree growns
worldfide in tropical forest within 20´ latitude of the equator.
Most important producers of cocoa are: Brazil, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
Colombia, Cameroon, Cote D´Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Indonesia and Malaysia. |
Plody
kakaovníku
 Flowers
and pods grow exactly from the stem called Chupon or from main branches.
The pods can be up to 30 cm long but it can differ a lot. Weight is ussually
300g - 500g and colour red-brown. The fruit grows about 5 months and other
month ripes. Its pulp is often eaten by animals and its seeds are used
for chocolate. There are 20 - 40 seeds in one pod. Seeds are 2 - 4 cm long
and 1 - 2cm wide. Main fruit seasons are in May and in October/November
and in this time the crop is ussually harvested. Each tree produces annually
about 0,5 -2,5 kg of seed kernels. |
Varieties
3 main varieties
of cocoa are criollo, forastero and trinitario.
Criollo
is smaller, has better taste quality, worth growth and gave the best cacao.
It originate in Venezuela when is mostly grown and takes only small part
of world crop (5 - 10 %). Because it is expensive it is used only for high
quality dark chocolate and often is mixed with forastero varieties.
Forastero
is dominating world variety of cocoa. It has bigger pods, lower taste and
quality and the tree is much more resistent to diseases than Criollo. It
makes up over 80 % of world cocoa production, mostly from Africa.
Trinitario
comes from Trinidad when was created from Criollo and Forastero to be more
resistent than past forms of local trees. Again very good quality cocoa.
about 10-15 % in world production. |
Krátká
historie kakaa a čokolády do roku 1800
Cocoa tree
became cultural plant in central America probably about 1500 BC when Olmecs
established first plantations.
Later central
american civilisations of Toltecs and Mayas continued in planting cocoa.
About 1000 AD cocoa beens were already used as a currency. Mayas used the
cocoa beans to prepare very nourishing drink which they called Xocolatl.
Columbus was
first European who saw cocoa in today´s Nicaragua in 1502. But he didn´t
care about cocoa because he searched way to India.
Hernando Cortez
discovered real importance of cocoa in central american society and also
thanks to nourishing cocoa drink conquered Aztec empire in 1521.
Cortez bringed
back to Europe the first cocoa in 1528. It took more then 100 years to
spread cocoa to other european countries. Chocolate became popular drink
in european higher society during 17th and 18th century.
The first
machine-made chocolate was produced in Barcelona about year 1780. Thanks
to industrial revolution and its inventions and massive expansion of sugar
production chocolate became not only drink but also confectionery in 19th
century. |
|
